Teen arrested over 'bomb hoax' after Peter Kay gig evacuated

A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of a bomb hoax offence after comedian Peter Kay was rushed off stage during a gig on Friday night.

Police said “no items of a suspicious nature were found” after the audience at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham was evacuated on May 1.

The 19-year-old man remains in custody, West Midlands Police said.

Kay’s show had been halted after a “potential suspicious bag” was found, and the venue was searched.

“Following searches of the Utilita Arena last night, no items of a suspicious nature were found,” police said on Saturday morning.

“A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a bomb hoax offence and remains in custody this morning as our inquiries continue.

Police say they have arrested a 19-year-old man / Credit: PA/Handout

“We’re grateful to everyone for their co-operation and understanding. As always our priority is the safety of the public.”

Witnesses said two members of staff came onto the stage about 45 minutes into the performance, whispered into Kay’s ear, and then escorted him away.

Steve Aspinall, who was at the gig with his wife, said the audience was told to look for security guards and listen out for any announcements.

“To be honest, I thought it was part of the show at first,” he told the Press Association.

“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.”

A spokesperson for the National Exhibition Centre said ticket holders will be contacted directly in due course.

On Thursday, the UK’s terror threat level was raised to “severe” meaning a terror attack is “highly likely”.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre announced the decision on Thursday, a day after two Jewish men were stabbed in north London and in the wake of several attacks in Jewish neighbourhoods in recent weeks.

The body, which is based in MI5 but makes independent assessments, previously set the threat level at “substantial”, meaning an attack was “likely”.