A 19-year-old man, Omar Majed, has been remanded in custody following an alleged bomb hoax that forced the evacuation and cancellation of a Peter Kay comedy show at Birmingham's Utilita Arena last Friday. Majed appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday, accused of communicating false information to a police officer and others, claiming a bomb was present in the arena.
Evacuation of Thousands
The alleged hoax triggered the evacuation of thousands of fans from the arena, which was expecting a crowd of nearly 13,000 for the performance. West Midlands Police confirmed that nothing suspicious was found during searches of the venue.
Courtroom Disruption
During the hearing, Majed was repeatedly asked to be quiet by District Judge Michelle Smith. He was eventually ordered to leave the courtroom after shouting that proposed bail conditions were "not acceptable." His bail application was refused, and the case has been adjourned to Birmingham Crown Court on 1 June.
The incident caused significant disruption to fans and the event, with the show being suspended as a precaution. The court will now proceed with the case at a higher court level.
