Belfast rap group 'Kneecap' released a statement on Thursday morning in response to band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh being charged with a terror offense.

Ó hAnnaidh, who performs as 'Mo Chara' was charged by Metropolitan Police this week under the name Liam O'Hanna, after displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a Kneecap concert in November of last year.

The group responded to the charge in a post of social media platform 'X' saying that they deny the offence and will "vehemently" defend themselves.

"14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza... and once again the British establishment is focused on us.

They group state that the police used an 'anti-terror law' against them for displaying a flag thrown on stage by a member of the crowd.

The trio marked the charge by the Metropolitan Police as "Political Policing" and a "carnival of distraction", before stating "We are not the story. Genocide is."

They then state that the charge is "not serious enough to even warrant their 'crown court, instead a court that doesn't have a jury. What's the objective?"

"To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out.

"Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries,"

In their closing remarks, Kneecap stated their intent to fight the charge, saying "We will fight you in your court. We will win. Free Palestine."

Ó hAnnaidh is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 18 June.

Kneecap are no strangers to controversy. Vocal supporters of Palestine, the group routinely incorporate political messages into their performances.

The group came under scrutiny last month after displaying pro-Palestinian messages at the end of their set at Coachella music festival.

TV personality and music manager Sharon Osbourne said the hip-hop trio "took their performance to a different level by incorporating aggressive political statements".

When prompted for a response to Osbourne's statement by BBC News NI, Kneecap said: "Statements aren't aggressive, murdering 20,000 children is though."

The group are due to perform in various locations throughout Ireland later this year.