Detectives in Melbourne are investigating whether a statue of a head which appeared on stage during a Kneecap gig last week is the same one which is at the centre of an ongoing inquiry.
On 10 June 2024, vandals at Kings Domain in Melbourne beheaded a statue of King George V - who ruled the UK from 1910 until his death in 1936 - during an Australian public holiday marking the monarch's birthday.
Authorities launched an inquiry after confirming the head had been taken and red paint had been splashed on the statue's base. The Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit has been handling the case since.
During their Melbourne show on Friday, the Belfast hip-hop trio posted an Instagram photo showing what appeared to be the head of the statue bearing a crown on stage next to band member Liam Óg hAnnaidh (Mo Chara).
Kneecap claimed the head belonged to the statue, writing on Instagram that it was "put on stage for a few tunes and then whisked away".
In a statement, Melbourne police said investigators are aware "that the head from what appears to be a statue appeared at a concert in Melbourne on 14 March".
"Detectives will investigate whether there is any link between the two incidents.
"No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing," the statement added.
The story has attracted widespread coverage in Australia with reports featuring on national TV, in daily newspapers and various online outlets.
