Teenager charged after ‘bomb hoax’ halts Peter Kay performance
A 19-year-old man has been charged with false communications relating to a bomb hoax after comedian Peter Kay was ushered off stage mid-performance and the Utilita Arena in Birmingham was evacuated on Friday night.
Omar Majed, of Washwood Heath, Birmingham, was remanded in custody and will appear before magistrates in Birmingham on May 4, West Midlands Police said.
Kay’s show was halted after a “suspicious bag” was reported but West Midlands Police later said “nothing suspicious was found” during searches.
In an update on Saturday evening, the force said: “An evacuation of the arena was ordered yesterday evening after a report of a suspicious bag being left in the area.
“Following searches, nothing suspicious was found and we are grateful to everyone for their co-operation and understanding.
“As always our priority is the safety of the public.”
Witnesses previously said two members of staff came onto the stage about 45 minutes into the performance, whispered into Kay’s ear, and then escorted him off.
Steve Aspinall, who was at the gig with his wife, told the Press Association: “Two guys came on, one with a mic and headphones, one guy whispered to Peter Kay and then he and Peter Kay shot off down the side.”
He said the audience was told to look for security guards and listen out for any announcements.
“To be honest, I thought it was part of the show at first,” said Mr Aspinall, who lives in Bideford, Devon.
“It was a strange atmosphere, eerie, just confused really (about) what was happening.
“But it was alright and everyone was calm and left quite quickly with no panic.”
In a statement on X, Utilita Arena Birmingham said the Peter Kay event on Saturday evening would go ahead as planned, adding: “West Midlands Police are satisfied with the security measures in place.”
The statement added: “We would like to thank the attendees of yesterday’s Peter Kay event for their cooperation, which ensured a swift and safe evacuation.
“Ticket holders for yesterday’s Peter Kay performance will be contacted with the next steps from their original point of purchase.
“At Utilita Arena Birmingham, the safety and security of our customers and colleagues is always our first priority.
“Our security measures include several overt and covert security measures, so whilst you may not see all operational security activity, you should be assured that it is ongoing.
“Our Evolv security system uses advanced sensors and AI technology to screen everyone and their bags as they enter the arena, helping security teams identify potential threats quickly and accurately, supported by additional bag searches as required.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
