English comedian Peter Kay
A 19-year-old accused of spreading bomb hoaxes at Peter’s comedy show was removed from court after repeatedly disrupting proceedings. Omar Majid was taken to cells mid-way through a brief hearing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday after failing to follow the judge’s instructions.District Judge Michelle Smith, appearing via video link, repeatedly instructed Majid to remain calm and remain seated. However, when he objected to the proposed bail conditions and described them as “not acceptable”, he was thrown out before the end of the hearing.Majeed, of Saltley, Birmingham, is accused of giving false information to police about the presence of a bomb at the venue.Prosecutors alleged that he signaled to a police constable and others that an explosive device might have been left inside the field.He did not enter any plea during the hearing and was remanded in custody. The court ruled that due to the seriousness of the case it was necessary for him to be tried in the Crown Court, where he is due to appear in June.The court heard that the incident had “serious consequences”, as around 13,000 people were expected to attend the event. Authorities ordered a complete evacuation of Birmingham’s Utilita Arena, which can seat more than 15,000 spectators.Police later confirmed that an extensive search did not find any suspicious items, and described the evacuation as a precautionary response to a perceived threat.Comedian Peter Kay was forced to abandon his performance on Friday evening about 45 minutes after taking the stage. Eyewitnesses said that two men approached them in the middle of the show, before they were immediately escorted out.Initially, many in the audience believed that the interruption was part of the acting. However, the situation soon became clear as announcements were made and venue lights were switched on, allowing a controlled evacuation to begin.Video circulating online showed a large crowd leaving the ground while police vehicles arrived at the scene. Despite the scale of the response, officials later confirmed that the site was safe.The canceled show was part of Peter Kay’s “Better Late Than Never” national tour, with proceeds going to several cancer charities. Organizers said ticket holders will be contacted with further updates. Police investigation into the incident is ongoing.