Bomb hoax arrest after Peter Kay show evacuated

Omar Majed is due to appear before magistrates in Birmingham in relation to the charge of false communications.

Omar Majed, 19, of Washwood Heath, Birmingham, has been charged with false communications in relation to the bomb hoax and will appear before magistrates in Birmingham on Monday, May 4, 2026.

The arena posted an update thanking attendees for their cooperation during the evacuation and said Saturday's show would go ahead with security measures in place. Ticket holders would be contacted with next steps by the outlet they originally used.

The Utilita Arena Birmingham was evacuated and comedian Peter Kay was rushed off stage after a report of a suspicious bag. The show was cut short about 45 minutes into the set; police conducted searches and found nothing suspicious.

The NEC Group announced that West Midlands Police were satisfied with security measures and that Kay's show at the Utilita Arena on Saturday night would go ahead as planned. The Evolv security system was used to screen entrants, and the safety of customers and staff remained the priority.

Peter Kay's performance at Birmingham's Utilita Arena was cut short about 45 minutes into the set as police investigated a potential suspicious bag. A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of bomb hoax; police said the man remained in custody and no items of a suspicious nature were found at the venue. Attendees initially thought the disruption might be part of the show before security staff ushered them out.

The UK's terror threat level was lifted from substantial to severe for the first time in more than four years, in the wake of a stabbing in London's Golders Green on Wednesday.

Peter Kay was due to perform at Utilita Arena Birmingham again at 20:00 on Saturday as part of the 'Better Late Than Never' tour.

The NEC Group noted that security measures include overt and covert activity, and that the Evolv security system screens entrants and bags as they enter the arena.

The NEC Group said West Midlands Police were satisfied with the security measures and that Kay's show at the arena would go ahead on Saturday; ticket holders for Friday's performance would be contacted with next steps.

West Midlands Police stated on Saturday that the man arrested on Friday remained in custody and that no items of a suspicious nature were found at the venue.

Audience members described the evacuation as calm and swift. Steve Aspinall, who traveled from Devon with his wife to attend the show, recalled staff guiding people to exits after an instruction was given, and others noted the rapid, orderly nature of the departure.

A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a bomb hoax offence after Peter Kay's Birmingham show was rushed off stage and the audience evacuated on Friday due to a potential suspicious bag.

The UK's terror threat level was lifted from substantial to severe for the first time in more than four years. The change was announced after reports of a stabbing in London's Golders Green on Wednesday.