Arabic version: عرض بيتر كاي في برمنغهام يتم إخلاؤه بسبب حقيبة مشبوهة
A show by comedian Peter Kay in Birmingham has been evacuated and the venue searched after police investigated a “potential suspicious bag”. According to BBC News, West Midlands Police said a 19-year-old man was in custody.
The evacuation occurred approximately 45 minutes into the Friday night show at the Utilita Arena. Eyewitness reports indicated that two men approached the stage, one of whom whispered to Kay, leading to the comedian exiting quickly. Audience member Steve Aspinall described the atmosphere as “strange, eerie, just confused really [about] what was happening” and noted that there was initial confusion about the situation.
Another attendee, pub landlady Miranda Richardson, recounted that staff instructed the audience to leave immediately due to “unforeseen circumstances.” She praised the staff for their calm and swift actions during the evacuation.
Videos shared on social media depicted crowds making their way to the exits as safety protocols were enacted. The venue reassured patrons in a post on X that the safety and security of everyone present is their highest priority, stating that ticket holders will receive further communication soon.
Peter Kay is scheduled to perform at the same arena again on Saturday. It is noteworthy that the UK’s terror threat level was lifted from “substantial” to “severe” just a day prior, following violent incidents in London.
