Photo Credit: Kneecap.ie
Ireland’s prime minister has called for hip-hop group Kneecap to clarify remarks made at shows urging fans to kill Tory MPs.
Micheál Martin, Ireland’s prime minister, has called for Irish hip-hop group Kneecap to “urgently clarify” comments allegedly made during the band’s concerts about killing Tory MPs.
Video of the group at a gig in November 2023 emerged, showing one member saying, “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.” Footage of another show in November 2024 appeared to show a member of the rap trio shouting, “Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah,” with a Hezbollah flag displayed.
“We were made aware of a video on 22 April, believed to be from an event in November, and it has been referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required,” said a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police. “We have also been made aware of another video believed to be from an event in November 2023.”
Similarly, a spokesperson for the UK government noted: “We unequivocally condemn threatening remarks made towards any individual.”
“Political intimidation and abuse must have no place in our society. We recognize the chilling effect that harassment and intimidation of elected representatives can have on our democracy,” their statement continued. “All reports of intimidation, harassment, and threats are taken extremely seriously. We work with the police and Parliament to do everything in our power to crack down on threats to elected officials.”
Meanwhile, Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson called for an investigation into the band. “Promoting sectarianism, glorifying violence, and spreading division under the guise of ‘art’ is still hate,” Robinson noted.
Despite the uproar, none of the group’s members have been charged with any crime thus far. Kneecap has faced similar criticism after displaying messages related to the war in Gaza during their Coachella set in the California desert earlier this month. The band’s manager, Daniel Lambert, remarked that the band had received “severe” death threats since their Coachella set.
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