A 19-year-old Birmingham man is due to appear in court over an alleged bomb hoax that forced the evacuation of a Peter Kay comedy show at the Utilita Arena.
Comedian Peter Kay, 52, was escorted off stage mid-performance on Friday evening after reports of a suspicious bag left in the venue. The show was subsequently cancelled, and the arena was evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Charges Filed
Omar Majed, from Washwood Heath, has been charged with false communications and is scheduled to appear in custody at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday, according to West Midlands Police.
Following a thorough search of the arena, police confirmed that nothing suspicious was found. In a statement released 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.”
Tour Continues
The show was part of Kay’s Better Late Than Never national tour, which has pledged to donate all proceeds to 12 cancer charities. The incident caused disruption but did not deter the tour’s charitable mission.
