A 19-year-old man charged over an alleged bomb hoax that forced the evacuation of a Peter Kay comedy show has appeared in court, where he smiled and bowed during the brief hearing.
Court Appearance
Omar Majed appeared before Birmingham Crown Court via video-link from HMP Brinsford on Monday, before Judge Andrew Smith KC. Wearing a grey prison t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, Majed remained silent, only nodding to confirm his identity. He smiled with his arms folded and repeatedly rested his head on the table.
Charges and Next Hearing
Majed, from Saltley, Birmingham, faces charges of communicating false information to police under the Criminal Law Act. A pre-trial review was scheduled for September 30. He has not yet been arraigned, pending psychiatric assessments. A previous hearing was abandoned after Majed began removing his clothing, and a trial date was set for November 3.
Judge Smith told Majed: 'You will next appear before this court on September 30 this year. Between now and then, various doctors will need to speak to you and you should co-operate with these doctors. You will, between now and September 30, remain in custody as you currently are.'
Incident at Peter Kay Show
Kay, 52, was escorted off stage during his performance at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on May 1, leading to the show's cancellation and evacuation. West Midlands Police later confirmed 'nothing suspicious was found' during searches. In a statement, 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.'
The show was part of Kay's Better Late Than Never national tour, with all proceeds going to 12 cancer charities.
