Peter Kay's concert at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham was abruptly halted and the venue evacuated after a bomb scare, with a 19-year-old man now in custody.
Evacuation During Performance
The 52-year-old comedian was ushered off stage approximately 45 minutes into his show on Friday evening after staff discovered a potentially suspicious bag. Eyewitnesses reported that two members of staff approached Kay, whispered in his ear, and escorted him away, leaving the audience confused but calm.
Steve Aspinall, who attended with his wife, told PA: '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.' He added that the audience was instructed to locate security guards and listen for announcements. 'To be honest, I thought it was part of the show at first. It was a strange atmosphere, eerie, just confused really about what was happening. But it was alright and everyone was calm and left quite quickly with no panic.'
Swift Evacuation
Miranda Richardson, a 52-year-old pub landlady from Northampton, described the evacuation as swift and orderly. 'The staff tells us due to unforeseen circumstances we all have to evacuate the arena straight away. Staff helped get people out and it was calm and swift. We heard very quickly someone had claimed a bag had been left somewhere. No messing, it was just all out.'
West Midlands Police confirmed that a 19-year-old man is being held in custody, and the arena was searched as a precaution. A spokesperson for the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), which owns the venue, said the evacuation was carried out on police advice. The venue was secured, and ticket holders will be contacted directly regarding rescheduling.
