“We deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction,” the band said on X.

Liam O’Hanna, 27, known by his stage name Mo Chara, was yesterday charged with showing support for a proscribed group during a performance on Nov 21.

London’s metropolitan police said officers from its counter-terrorism command launched an investigation after a video of the event surfaced online in April.

In its statement, Kneecap attacked the “establishment” for trying to focus attention elsewhere while the population of Gaza suffered, and accused Israel of committing genocide.

“We are not the story. Genocide is. As they profit from genocide, they use an ‘anti-terror law’ against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage”.

The charge follows growing scrutiny of Kneecap’s performances after footage circulated online showing provocative political statements made by the band on stage.

One video appeared to show a band member shouting: “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah.”

Those groups, in Gaza and in Lebanon, are banned as terror organisations in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them.

The band, known for its confrontational style and Irish nationalist messaging, has denied supporting violence or banned groups.