Teenager charged after bomb hoax at Peter Kay show

A 19-year-old has been charged with false communications relating to a bomb hoax after a Peter Kay show in Birmingham was evacuated on Friday.

Omar Majed, of Washwood Heath, Birmingham, has been remanded to appear before magistrates in Birmingham on 4 May, West Midlands Police said Saturday night

The force added that following searches of the Utilita Arena Birmingham on Friday, no suspicious items were found.

About 45 minutes after the show started on Friday night, Kay was rushed from the stage, and the crowd was told to leave the arena on Friday night after police found a "potentially suspicious bag" at the venue.

"Following an extensive search by West Midlands Police, no items of a suspicious nature were found, and the building was determined to be safe," Utilita Arena Birmingham said as it announced Saturday's show would go ahead as planned.

"West Midlands Police are satisfied with the security measures in place."

Footage from Friday night shows crowds filing out of the arena, which can seat 15,000 spectators.

The gig was part of Kay's long-running Better Late Than Never tour, which will see all proceeds donated to cancer charities.

'Calm and swift evacuation'

Steve Aspinall, who was at the gig with his wife on Friday, said the abrupt end to the show caught them by surprise.

"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, adding that 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. 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."

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Miranda Richardson, 52, who was also at the show, said: "One minute [Peter Kay's] on stage and the gig is great, then two of the event team walk on stage straight to him, quick word and he's ushered off."

"The staff tells us due to unforeseen circumstances we all have to evacuate the arena straight away.

"Staff helped get people out and it was calm and swift. We heard very quickly someone had claimed a bag had been left somewhere."

On Friday, a spokesperson for the National Exhibition Centre said: "Utilita Arena Birmingham has been evacuated as a precaution on the advice of West Midlands Police after a potential suspicious bag was found nearby.

"Ticket holders will be contacted directly in due course," it added.

(c) Sky News 2026: Teenager charged after bomb hoax at Peter Kay show