The Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command has launched an investigation into the Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap, following the emergence of videos from their concerts that allegedly contain inflammatory statements. The footage, believed to be from performances in London in November 2023 and November 2024, reportedly shows members of the group making remarks about Members of Parliament and expressing support for organizations designated as terrorist groups in the UK.

One of the videos from November 2023 appears to feature a member of Kneecap stating, 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' Another clip from a November 2024 concert allegedly shows the group shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah,' both of which are banned under UK terrorism laws. The Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit assessed the videos and found sufficient grounds for a deeper investigation into potential offenses.

Kneecap has responded to the allegations by issuing an apology to the families of murdered MPs David Amess and Jo Cox, stating they never intended to cause hurt or incite violence. The group has also denied supporting Hamas or Hezbollah, claiming the footage has been 'exploited and weaponised' against them. Their manager has suggested that the band is being unfairly targeted by a coordinated campaign.

The investigation underscores the ongoing challenges authorities face in monitoring and addressing potentially extremist content in the arts and entertainment sectors. As the inquiry continues, the case has sparked a broader debate about the boundaries of free expression and the responsibilities of performers in avoiding language that could be construed as incitement to violence.

Families of the 29 victims killed in the 1994 Chinook helicopter crash are escalating their decades-long fight for answers, preparing to deliver a petition with more than 47,000 signatures to Downing Street demanding a public inquiry. The Chinook Justice Campaign has published 110 "critical questions" they want answered about the tragedy that claimed the lives of 25 intelligence experts and four special forces crew members when the aircraft crashed on the Mull of Kintyre on June 2, 1994.

The campaign comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer rejected calls for a judge-led inquiry into the incident, prompting families to declare they will "see the UK government in court." Among those delivering the petition on Tuesday are brothers Andy and Matt Tobias from Watford, whose father John Tobias was killed in the crash. The petition delivery will be accompanied by an attempt to deliver a letter directly to the Ministry of Defence.

Central to the families' concerns are questions about mission authorization, aircraft selection, and whether those on board were properly warned of risks. The campaign has gained momentum amid revelations that key documents related to the crash have been sealed until 2094—a century after the incident occurred. David Hill, technical expert for the Chinook Justice Campaign, characterized the government's position as "a betrayal by the state of them and their loved ones."

The crash investigation has followed a contentious path over the past three decades. Initial findings blamed pilot error for the tragedy, but this conclusion was overturned in 2011. The continuing secrecy surrounding the incident has drawn criticism from campaigners who argue it "undermines trust not only in the MoD but in the government itself." As families prepare to confront the government directly, the case represents one of Britain's longest-running military accountability battles.