Hip hop Irish trio Kneecap is being investigated by UK counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for politicians to be killed and shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah.

In an open letter organised by Heavenly Recordings, Kneecap label, artists such as Massive Attack, Paul Weller and more say that “in a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people.”

British counterterrorism detectives will investigate comments by Irish hip-hop group Kneecap. The Irish-language rappers from Belfast were reported to police over footage from a 2024 concert in which a band member appears to say: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory.