A teenager accused of making a bomb hoax that forced Peter Kay off stage and sent 13,000 fans fleeing from a Birmingham arena had to be removed from his court hearing today after he began taking off his prison-issue tracksuit bottoms in front of the judge.
Omar Majed, 19, appeared via video link at Birmingham Crown Court charged with communicating false information to police under the Criminal Law Act, following an incident at the Utilita Arena last month that brought Kay’s Better Late Than Never tour to an abrupt halt just 45 minutes into the performance. Judge Andrew Smith KC had been attempting to address Majed when prison officers stepped in and escorted the defendant out of the video hearing room as he started to undress. The judge cut short his remarks and placed on record that staff had understandably removed him from the proceedings.
Majed was not arraigned during the hearing due to the need for psychiatric reports. A further case management hearing was set for 27 July, with a provisional trial date scheduled for 3 November.
The incident that led to the charges unfolded when Majed allegedly barged into the arena without a ticket and suggested a bomb may have been left at the venue. Police were called following reports of a potentially suspicious bag found inside, and around 13,000 concert-goers were evacuated from the arena as officers carried out searches. Kay was rushed offstage as the evacuation got under way.
Footage shared on social media showed thousands of fans filing out of the venue in confusion. Audience members told The Sun they initially assumed the interruption was “part of the show” before the mood shifted to “complete panic” as word spread of the security alert. West Midlands Police subsequently confirmed that nothing dangerous had been discovered. “We’re grateful to everyone for their co-operation and understanding,” the force said. “As always our priority is the safety of the public.”
The disrupted show was part of Kay’s Better Late Than Never tour, with all proceeds from the run being donated to cancer charities.
