Member of N. Irish rap group Kneecap, accused of displaying Hezbollah flag, charged with terrorism offense

A rapper from Northern Ireland who has criticized Israel’s war in Gaza was charged with a terrorism offense after he was accused of displaying the flag of the Hezbollah militant group, British authorities said Wednesday.

A rapper from Northern Ireland who has criticized Israel’s war in Gaza was charged with a terrorism offense after he was accused of displaying the flag of the Hezbollah militant group, British authorities said Wednesday.

London’s Metropolitan Police accused Liam O’Hanna, 27, who whose name in Irish is Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh and who performs as Mo Chara in the hip-hop trio Kneecap, of violating a provision in the country’s terrorism law that bans people from displaying flags “in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter” of groups the United Kingdom considers terrorists.

The Met said it launched an investigation after it learned of an online video last month that showed O’Hanna displaying the flag of Hezbollah at a venue north of London on Nov. 21.

Representatives for Kneecap did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday night.

Hezbollah, a Shia political party and militant organization based in Lebanon, has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, the U.K. and other countries over its militant activities and its ties to Iran.