Comedian Peter Kay's performance at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham was abruptly halted, and the audience evacuated, following the discovery of a "potential suspicious bag." West Midlands Police confirmed that after thorough searches of the venue, no items of a suspicious nature were found. A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of committing a bomb hoax offence and remains in police custody.
Evacuation Details
Witnesses reported that Kay was escorted off stage approximately 45 minutes into his show. The audience remained calm during the evacuation process, which was carried out as a precautionary measure. The National Exhibition Centre (NEC), which manages the arena, stated that the safety of attendees was the top priority and confirmed that the venue is now secure.
Police Statement
West Midlands Police released a statement saying: "We were called to the Utilita Arena in Birmingham following reports of a suspicious item. Officers attended and conducted a search. No items of a suspicious nature were found. A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a bomb hoax and remains in custody."
The incident occurred on Friday evening, causing disruption to the sold-out show. The arena was evacuated as a precaution, and audience members were allowed to re-enter once the all-clear was given. The show was later cancelled for the night.
Peter Kay has not yet commented on the incident, but fans have taken to social media to express their relief that no harm came to anyone and to praise the swift response of security and police.
