Peter Kay’s gig ended abruptly after a bomb scare
Peter Kay was rushed off stage and the audience evacuated from the venue on Friday following a suspected bomb hoax incident. A 19-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of a bomb hoax offence.
The comedian was about 45 minutes into his set at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena when the show was halted as police investigated a “potential suspicious bag”.
At first, audience members thought the incident was part of the show, before the light turned on and security staff ushered everyone out.
“We’re grateful to everyone for their cooperation and understanding. As always, our priority is the safety of the public,” a spokesperson for the force added.
Steve Aspinall was among the audience, having taken the day off work and driven with his wife, Sue, from Bideford in Devon to watch Kay perform.
“One was wearing headphones and a microphone, and the other whispered in his ear and rushed him off the stage,” he said.
“We were told that due to unforeseen circumstances, the gig could not continue, and to listen to announcements.
“At first, me and many others thought it was part of the show, but then the lights came up, and everyone started filing out.
“Because it’s this day and age, I did say to my wife, I don’t know if it’s a bomb threat, but the fact they didn’t say anything meant no one panicked.”
Videos shared on social media showed crowds leaving the 15,000-capacity venue, while numerous police cars and riot vans converged on the area.
“The safety and security of our customers and colleagues is our highest priority”, the venue said in a post on X.
“Ticket holders will be contacted directly in due course,” it added.
Kay is due to perform at the arena again tonight (Saturday, May 2).
The show is part of the performer’s Better Late Than Never national tour, with all profits set to be donated to 12 leading cancer charities.
Kay is also scheduled to perform in Belfast, Liverpool, Sheffield and Leeds.
It was announced yesterday that the terror threat in the UK has been raised to severe for the first time in more than four years, following the stabbing of two Jewish men in north London.
The government website said that the threat level has been increased to severe “following the Golders Green attack and increasing threat of Islamist and Extreme Right Wing terrorism in the UK.”
Before yesterday (Thursday 30 April), the threat level sat at ‘substantial’ and was upped to ‘severe’ for the first time since 2021.
What are the different threat levels in the UK?
In the UK, there are five different degrees of threat regarding terrorism which is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and the Security Service (MI5).
The government website lists two different categories for threats.
These are threats to the UK from terrorism – currently listed as severe – and threats to Northern Ireland “from Northern Ireland-related terrorism” – which is set at substantial.
The five threat levels are:
- low – an attack is highly unlikely
- moderate – an attack is possible but not likely
- substantial – an attack is likely
- severe – an attack is highly likely
- critical – an attack is highly likely in the near future
How are threat levels decided?
The threat level is set by the aforementioned Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and the Security Service (MI5) and is based off a number of factors.
As per the MI5 website, there are:
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