A live show by comedian Peter Kay in Birmingham was stopped after a potential suspicious bag was found around the venue. The evacuation occurred at the Utilita Arena Birmingham about 45 minutes into his performance.
As of early Tuesday, the venue was cleared on the advice of West Midlands Police. A 19-year-old man has been taken into custody, but details regarding charges have not been released.
The arena can seat approximately 15,800 people. Audience members reported confusion as they were evacuated during what was meant to be a night of comedy.
Officials stated that the safety and security of customers and colleagues is their highest priority. The venue emphasized it acted as a precaution due to the suspicious bag.
The incident occurred during Peter Kay’s latest tour across the UK and Ireland, with profits donated to cancer charities. Ticket holders will receive further communication regarding this disruption.
In a statement, the Utilita Arena Birmingham said, “The arena has been evacuated as a precaution on the advice of West Midlands Police after a potential suspicious bag was found nearby.”
West Midlands Police confirmed they are assisting with the evacuation and investigating the situation. No timeline for when the investigation will conclude has been provided.
This incident comes shortly after the UK’s terror threat level was raised from ‘substantial’ to ‘severe’, highlighting heightened security concerns nationwide.
