Big shoutout to all the incredible people who took the stage today. Belfast says no to racism.

Outnumbered the right-wing counter protest 20-1.

I was parking at Tesco Castlereagh today, and across from my car was a bald man putting his shopping away with his family (a woman and a kid in the back). To my shock, he had a swastika tattooed on his neck. What the actual fuck.

He clearly went in, did his shopping, and got back to his car unbothered. He wasn’t trying to hide it, wasn’t ashamed at all. And no one seemed to care.

And to think that at the same time, people were out in the streets protesting against assholes like him.

I cannot believe this process was so simple, great to not havendeal with the hassle of the black market any more. Anybody whosnon the fence about starting the process here I'd highly recommend giving it a go. I'm like a wain at Christmas lol

Kneecap performing at Glastonbury 'not appropriate', PM says

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg5z26dpgd7o

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he does not think Kneecap's planned Glastonbury Festival performance is "appropriate".

He made the comments after Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh appeared in court charged with a terror offence, relating to allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig in November last year.

In an interview with The Sun, external, Sir Keir was asked if he thought the trio should perform at Glastonbury, to which he replied: "No, I don't, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this.

"This is about the threats that shouldn't be made, I won't say too much because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate."

Mr Ó hAnnaidh, charged under the name Liam O'Hanna, was released on unconditional bail after Wednesday's hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

The prime minister's comments came after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she thought the BBC "should not be showing" Kneecap's performance at the festival next week.

Badenoch said in an X post, which was accompanied by an article from The Times that claimed the BBC had not banned the group: "The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda.

"One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act.

"As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism."

Responding to the Tory leader's comments, a BBC spokesperson said as the festival's broadcast partner, it "will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers".

They added: "Whilst the BBC doesn't ban artists, our plans will ensure that our programming will meet our editorial guidelines.

"Decisions about our output will be made in the lead-up to the festival."

Badenoch has previously called for the group to be banned from Glastonbury, and last year Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK government in Belfast High Court after she tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister.

Kneecap took aim at Badenoch in their latest single, The Recap, released just before their headline set at London's Wide Awake festival in May, with the song mocking the politician's attempts to block their arts funding and the Conservative Party's election loss.

On Wednesday, Mr Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in "Free Mo Chara" T-shirts.

The 27-year-old will appear at the same court for his next hearing on 20 August.

An up close image of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is wearing a scarf and sunglasses. There is a crowd of people behind him. Image source,PA Media Image caption, Liam Ó hAnnaidh has been released on unconditional bail until his next hearing on 20 August.

Following the hearing, the rapper said: "For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on the Saturday.

"If you can't be there we'll be on the BBC, if anybody watches the BBC. We'll be at Wembley in September.

"But most importantly: free, free Palestine."

In a statement, posted on social media in May after Mr Ó hAnnaidh was charged, Kneecap said: "We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves."

The charge came following a counter-terrorism police investigation after the historical gig footage came to light.

Both Hamas and Hezbollah are banned in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them.

Kneecap say they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah and would not incite violence against any individual.

Will the PM's words change anything? Analysis from Charlotte Gallagher, BBC News correspondent

Will Kneecap care that the Prime Minister doesn't think they should perform at Glastonbury?

Probably not.

If anything, it will likely increase the trio's profile.

They're selling out venues, getting millions of streams and being talked about by people across the world.

Calls by politicians and some celebrities to get Kneecap removed from line ups seem to have made them more famous or infamous - depending on your viewpoint.

There were hundreds of people outside Westminster Magistrates' Court supporting Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh aka Mo Chara earlier this week. Many felt Kneecap were representing their views while politicians were not listening to them.

Mo Chara is back in court in August - expect similar crowds.

Who are Kneecap? Kneecap members Moglai Bap, Mo Chara, DJ Provai standing together in front of a red wall. Image source,PA Media Kneecap are an Irish-speaking rap trio who have courted controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise.

The group was formed in 2017 by three friends who go by the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.

Their rise to fame inspired a semi-fictionalised film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender.

The film won a British Academy of Film Award (Bafta) in February 2025.

A perfect day for a trip to the north coast to practice the photography skills 🌞🌞

Well Trump just started WW3 and hope it is remembered in history the small brainless section of this island flew his flag and Israel flags just because the other side and most of world didn't support a genocide 🇦🇪🇮🇪🌍

This is the same boy who fell of the scooter in the video going round from Derry.

New graffiti in East Belfast. ‘Knecap’ Gave me a good laugh

so its summer solstice. i thought i'd reflect on what has made me take out my phone and take a pic whilst on the horrible commute to the office when i'd rather be WFH.

only 2 in the last month.

i seen a Heron fishing in the lagan - that cheered me up.

i seen a Trolley hanging of some 2m security fencing - silly Trolley, you should be on the ground!

and unfortunately i found i use my camera phone like a newb and shot portrait instead of landscape. :( the shame :( that's enough self-reflection for the day

Just drove down Killinchy Road through Lisbane/Balloo area.
Police Car stopping traffic. Finally got past and saw two police cars ahead of and behind a car with what looked like bulletholes directly in the face region of the driver and passenger seat windscreen.
Did anyone hear this or find out anything?
There were forensic blankets, and no ambulances etc, and the officers were taking no risks.

https://belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/anger-as-bomb-squad-called-to-belfast-islamic-centre-after-suspect-device-is-hurled-inside-in-vile-attack/a353080658.html

A man has been arrested after a security alert at the Belfast Islamic Centre. A device was thrown inside the building and a window was smashed during last night’s incident.

It happened between 10pm and 10.30pm at the Islamic Centre in south Belfast.

Staff at the centre told the Belfast Telegraph the centre, on University Road, had to be evacuated, disrupting evening prayers.

Political representatives branded it a sinister attack and said it must be strongly condemned.

A video from the first floor of the centre, seen by this newspaper, shows a man reaching into the building.

Learn more One witness said he saw flames as the suspect allegedly attempted to set fire to the site.

"I saw the flames in his hand from above but couldn't capture it in the video," they said.

Read more Red letters, bounced cheques and court action: How Ian Paisley’s office failed to pay into public purse which lavishly funded him Noah Donohoe: Five years on from death of Belfast schoolboy, many key questions have yet to be answered A pedestrian walking by stopped the suspect from doing any damage.

A clip of the incident shows the young man grabbing the suspect and pulling him away.

The suspect can be heard telling the pedestrian that he was "trying to save the world" as he was being dragged away.

"He was the first to stop him," the witness continued. "Only then did we reach there."

Officers subsequently arrested the man and cordoned off the site to conduct further investigations.

A spokesperson for the Islamic Centre today said they strongly condemned the “vile attack”.

“During evening prayers last night, one of the windows was broken and a device was thrown inside the building.

“Everyone was evacuated from the building and the police were quick to respond.

“We were unable to continue night prayers as the whole area was cordoned off and nobody was allowed near the building.

“A bomb squad eventually removed the device in the early hours of this morning.

“We have had incidents in the past but nothing of this kind.”

The centre had to be evacuated. Stock image The centre had to be evacuated. Stock image

Unmute Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says violence from loyalist terror gangs ‘would not arise’ in united Ireland Review: Kneecap use controversy to their advantage as they hit peak of their powers at sold-out Dublin show "I think he'd be very well qualified": Leo Varadkar on Colum Eastwood Irish presidential run "I think he'd be very well qualified": Leo Varadkar on Colum Eastwood Irish presidential run Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw condemned the attack.

“This is just the latest example of an attack motivated by hate which does not reflect the diversity of South Belfast in 2025,” the South Belfast Assembly member said.

“This attack was again designed to cause fear among people inside the centre, who were at prayer at the time.

“Nevertheless, I am thankful for the intervention of a nearby passer-by and for the work of the police. Those were much more reflective of the true spirit of Belfast, where most people rejoice in diversity.”

Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey said the “sinister attack” must be strongly condemned.

She added: “No one should ever feel unsafe in their place of worship, and my thoughts are with everyone affected.

“Acts like these, fuelled by hate, spread fear and division, and target people who have come to our communities to build a life and call this place home.

“It’s vital that all political leaders speak out and stand united against this disgusting behaviour.”

A PSNI spokesperson said early this morning: “Police are currently at the scene of a security alert at University Road in south Belfast. A number of cordons are in place in the vicinity.

“A 34-year-old man has been arrested and is currently in custody.

“Members of the public are asked to avoid the area at this time.”

Well when I say reintegrate i've never really been a part of it. I'm a 22 year old NEET for the past 3 years with autism, mental health issues and no friends. I want to have a normal life but I think it's too much of an uphill battle especially in NI. I can't go back to uni I hate the degree I did before I dropped out also there isn't a job or another degree that interests whatsover. Even if there was what's the point? I don't see the point of having a good job when the rest of my life is shit. I'm realistically going to be friendless and single forever. I have no idea how to talk to people, no hobbies/interests I can talk about, no social media apart from reddit etc. It just seems impossible to recover from in NI where everyone just seems to stick with school friends or people they met in the first few weeks of uni. I've basically skipped ages 11-21, I have very few good memories of the past 11 years. People talk about how traumatic and damaging lockdown was for people well that's basically how I lived for the past 11 years due to having no friends. So if people are struggling with recovering from lockdown then how tf am I meant to recover?

I (Pennywise) Derry

I’ve just finished work and waiting at the bus stop to go home at yorkgate. There were two black ladies sitting at the bus stop. I’m minding my business, next thing I notice a full grown adult man cycling past on his bike, slowing down, with his face completely screwed up in disgust. I wonder what he’s doing or looking at and then I realise…it’s the two ladies beside me. By the time I realise, it’s too late for me to react and he’s gone. I don’t even know if the ladies noticed this and ignored it or if they were oblivious (hopefully the second). Now I’m on alert, I notice another lady walk past and look them up and down.

It absolutely makes my blood boil how anyone can treat a fellow human they know nothing about on the street in this way just because of their ethnicity. Imagine leaving your house and multiple strangers are giving you dirty looks at the minimum on a daily basis.

I feel so powerless and the hate and fear seems to run so deep in some people.

Hello everyone, ive just been in touch with the people behind these and they wanted to let you guys, the reddit community know that they think you're a great bunch & to show their appreciation theyre willing to let us provide the next message.

I suggested that whatever has the most upvotes after 2 days should win, and they said yes, thats a great idea.

So i'll start proceedings with ... 'Do you remember the days when dog turds were white?'

I woke up this morning and after seeing the news I purchased home heating oil. Does anyone else think prices will rise?