West Midlands Police has confirmed that a 19-year-old man has been arrested following the evacuation of Peter Kay's stand-up show at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham. The venue was cleared midway through the comedian's set on Friday, May 1, after a suspicious bag was discovered.
Evacuation Details
Hundreds of audience members were evacuated from the arena just 45 minutes into the performance. According to attendees, a member of the production team took to the stage at approximately 8:45 PM to announce that the show would not continue. Some spectators reported that Peter Kay had been quickly taken off stage, and police were seen inside the venue.
Police Statement
West Midlands Police released a statement saying: "We are assisting with an evacuation at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham after a potential suspicious bag was found. A 19-year-old man is in custody, and as a precaution, the site is currently being searched. We will provide further updates when we can."
Venue Response
The Utilita Arena also issued an update, stating: "Utilita Arena Birmingham has been evacuated as a precaution on the advice of West Midlands Police after a potential suspicious bag was found nearby. The safety and security of customers and our colleagues is our highest priority. We can confirm everyone was safely evacuated and that the venue is secure. Ticket holders will be contacted directly in due course."
Peter Kay is scheduled to perform at the same venue in Birmingham city centre on Saturday night. Further details regarding the incident are expected to be released as the investigation continues.
