A 19-year-old individual, Omar Majed, facing charges related to a bomb hoax that led to the evacuation of a Peter Kay comedy show, had to be forcibly removed from a court session as he started undressing. The incident occurred during a video-link appearance at Birmingham Crown Court from HMP Brinsford. However, the hearing was abruptly halted when Majed began removing his prison-issued grey tracksuit bottoms.
Judge Andrew Smith KC was addressing the defendant, who was not arraigned at the hearing due to the pending psychiatric evaluations. Despite the judge’s attempts to communicate with Majed about his next appearance, the session was disrupted by the defendant’s behavior. Judge Smith acknowledged the disruption, noting that prison staff had intervened to remove Majed from the video hearing room.
A further case management hearing for Majed, a resident of Saltley in Birmingham, charged with communicating false information to the police under the Criminal Law Act, has been scheduled for July 27. Additionally, a trial lasting two weeks is provisionally set for November 3.
The incident at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on May 1, which led to the evacuation of the Peter Kay comedy show, prompted the cancellation of the event. West Midlands Police later confirmed that no suspicious items were found during the searches. The evacuation was triggered by a report of a suspicious bag left in the vicinity, as stated in an update by the police force on May 2. The authorities expressed gratitude for the public’s cooperation and emphasized their commitment to public safety.
The show affected by the evacuation was part of Kay’s Better Late Than Never national tour, with all proceeds designated to benefit 12 cancer charities.