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Bomb hoax at Utilita Arena
A bomb hoax alert disrupted a Peter Kay performance at Utilita Arena Birmingham, where the comedian was “rushed from the stage” and the audience was told to leave after police reported a “potential suspicious bag” being found nearby.
“within just 45 minutes of the performance”
The incident unfolded on Friday night, with the show stopped “about 45 minutes” into Kay’s set as staff ushered him off, and the venue evacuated “within just 45 minutes of the performance,” according to the Mirror.
West Midlands Police later said that “Following searches of the Utilita Arena last night no items of a suspicious nature were found,” and the force added, “We’re grateful to everyone for their co-operation and understanding.”
Multiple outlets described the evacuation as precautionary on police advice, with the arena saying, “Utilita Arena Birmingham has been evacuated as a precaution on the advice of West Midlands Police after a potential suspicious bag was found nearby.”
Sky News reported that the crowd was told to leave “halfway through the show on Friday night,” and it said the building was “determined to be safe” after searches.
The BBC similarly reported that the Utilita Arena was evacuated and that Kay was “about 45 minutes into his set when it was cut short,” after a report of a suspicious bag.
In the aftermath, the venue and police both emphasized that nothing dangerous was discovered, while the show’s status shifted from disruption to continuation, with Utilita Arena Birmingham saying the Saturday evening performance would “go ahead as planned.”
Omar Majed charged
The disruption led to criminal charges against a Birmingham teenager, with West Midlands Police charging Omar Majed, 19, with false communications relating to a bomb hoax.
The Telegraph said the 19-year-old was charged after the evacuation of “thousands of fans” at a Birmingham arena, and it reported that he was remanded to appear before magistrates in Birmingham on Monday.
Sky News reported that Majed, “of Washwood Heath, Birmingham,” was remanded to appear before magistrates in Birmingham on “4 May,” and it described the charge as “false communications relating to a bomb hoax.”
The Sun likewise said Majed, “19,” was “accused of false communications relating to the concerning explosives claims” and that he was remanded to appear before magistrates in Birmingham on “May 4.”
The Mirror and Stroud News and Journal both repeated that Majed was charged with false communications relating to a bomb hoax and that he was remanded to appear before magistrates in Birmingham on “4 May.”
BBC coverage stated that Omar Majed “has been charged with false communications and will appear before magistrates in the city on Monday,” after the evacuation triggered by a report of a suspicious bag.
Across the reporting, police statements consistently returned to the same point after searches: “Following searches, nothing suspicious was found,” and “As always our priority is the safety of the public.”
Witnesses describe the moment
Witness accounts described how the evacuation began abruptly during the performance, with staff members appearing on stage and whispering to Peter Kay before he was escorted off.
“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”
Steve Aspinall, who attended with his wife, told the Press Association that “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.”
Aspinall said he initially thought it was part of the show, telling outlets: “To be honest, I thought it was part of the show at first,” and he added, “It was a strange atmosphere, eerie, just confused really (about) what was happening.”
Sky News quoted Aspinall saying the audience was told to “look for security guards and listen out for any announcements,” and it described the atmosphere as “calm and swift” as people left.
The Independent also included Aspinall’s account that “everyone was calm and left quite quickly with no panic,” and it said footage showed people queueing to leave their seats as part of the evacuation.
The Telegraph added another perspective from Emily Wilson, 34, who described “anxiety, panic and tears” as her mother, Rayner Wilson, 69, scanned for an exit point.
Wilson told the Daily Mail that “Everyone fell quiet and confused,” and she said she heard an emergency worker say “bomb scare.”
Security measures and public debate
After the evacuation, the reporting highlighted both official assurances and audience criticism about security screening.
Utilita Arena Birmingham defended its approach by pointing to its “Evolv security system,” which it said “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.”
Birmingham Live reported that some fans slammed the venue’s bag checks, with one fan telling the outlet: “Bags weren't being checked,” and another dad saying, “My daughter went and said the security was chaos, hardly checking bags. I think their security needs stepping up.”
Utilita’s spokesperson responded by describing “tailored venue search operations,” “multi-purpose dog response teams,” “intelligence-led CCTV monitoring,” and “partnerships with West Midlands Police,” while also saying, “While you may not see all security activity, please be assured that it is ongoing, often behind the scenes.”
The Stroud News and Journal account of the arena’s statement also emphasized that “West Midlands Police are satisfied with the security measures in place,” and it said the venue’s security measures included “several overt and covert security measures.”
Sky News similarly quoted Utilita Arena Birmingham saying “West Midlands Police are satisfied with the security measures in place,” and it said the building was determined safe after searches.
In parallel, police and arena statements continued to stress that nothing suspicious was found, with West Midlands Police saying, “Following searches, nothing suspicious was found,” and the force adding, “As always our priority is the safety of the public.”
Terror threat backdrop
The bomb hoax incident was reported alongside a separate shift in the UK terror threat level, which outlets linked in their coverage of the same weekend.
“It comes as the UK’s terror threat was raised to “severe”, meaning it is “highly likely” there could be an attack on British soil.”
The Sun said “It comes as the UK’s terror threat was raised to ‘severe’, meaning it is ‘highly likely’ there could be an attack on British soil,” and it added that officials elevated the threat from “substantial” to “severe” after “two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green on Tuesday.”
The Telegraph similarly stated that the incident took place “just a day after the terror threat level was lifted from ‘substantial’ to ‘severe’ for the first time in four and a half years,” following the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, on Wednesday.
The Sun also emphasized that “Though there was no suggestion the two events are connected,” while the Telegraph described the police response as extensive, noting “Dozens of police officers in multiple emergency vehicles were stationed outside the venue, with a specialised dog unit deployed in the operation.”
Sky News did not describe the terror threat level in the same way, but it did report the operational response to the suspicious bag, including that the crowd was told to leave after police found a “potentially suspicious bag.”
The Independent described the evacuation as precautionary and said “Doors opened at 6pm before the show began around 8pm,” placing the start of the performance in the evening timeline.
In the same reporting, the arena and police continued to insist on safety and security, with West Midlands Police saying, “We’re grateful to everyone for their co-operation and understanding,” and the arena stating, “Ticket holders will be contacted directly in due course.”
Next steps for fans and court
With the charge announced, the reporting also focused on what happens next for the suspect and for ticket holders, as well as the immediate resumption of the tour.
Sky News said Majed was remanded to appear before magistrates in Birmingham on “4 May,” and it described the investigation as continuing after police found no suspicious items.
The BBC reported that Omar Majed “will appear before magistrates in the city on Monday,” and it said the NEC Group spokesperson stated that “ticket holders would be contacted with their next steps by the outlet they originally used.”
The Mirror and other outlets reported that the teen was remanded to appear before magistrates in Birmingham on “4 May,” and they quoted West Midlands Police saying, “Following searches, nothing suspicious was found” and “As always our priority is the safety of the public.”
On the venue side, multiple outlets reported that the show would continue, with Utilita Arena Birmingham saying on X that the Peter Kay event “would go ahead as planned,” and Sky News quoting the arena that “the building was determined to be safe.”
The Sun also said Utilita Arena had released a statement confirming that Peter Kay’s performance would “go ahead as planned,” and it added that Kay was continuing his tour at the same venue in Birmingham “tonight and, so far, has gone off without any incident.”
Meanwhile, the Express and Star report said police issued a traffic warning and that “No indication of an ongoing threat” was given, while Birmingham Live said fans would be contacted with “next steps” after the earlier disruption.
