Member of Irish rap band Kneecap charged with terrorism offence

LONDON (Reuters) -A member of the Irish rap band Kneecap was charged with a terrorism offence for displaying a flag in support of the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, British police said on Wednesday.

Liam O’Hanna, whose stage name is Mo Chara, showed the flag during one of the band’s shows in London in November, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

It said O’Hanna, 27, displayed the flag “in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation,” in this case identified as Hezbollah.

Kneecap’s management team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

O’Hanna is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18.

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Additional reporting by Amanda Ferguson in Belfast; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)