Comedian Peter Kay has been ‘bundled off stage’ after his gig at a Birmingham arena was abruptly halted after 45 minutes and fans were evacuated.
Police said a 19-year-old man is being held after a ‘suspicious’ bag was found.
Peter Kay was performing at Utilita Arena in Birmingham tonight as part of his ‘Better Late Than Never’ tour, when shortly into the show the crowd was asked to leave and he was taken off stage.
The show had begun at 8pm, but was abruptly cancelled while police carried out a search after a potentially suspicious bag was found.
Birmingham Police said in a statement: ‘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 subject of a search.
‘We will provide further updates when we can.’
Photos at the scene tonight show police vehicles parked outside the arena and crowds of people gathered outside.
A video shared to social media showed the moment an announcer went on stage and asked people to leave.
The man said: ‘Ladies and gentleman, due to unforeseen circumstances, we are going to have to stop the show.
Police vans were parked outside the arena tonight as a search was carried out, following the discovery of a ‘suspicious bag’
Pictured: the crowd evacuating at Peter Kay’s show tonight in Birmingham’s Utilita Arena
An announcer took to the stage at around 8.45pm to ask everyone in the audience to leave due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’
The comedian was only 45 minutes into the performance, part of his ‘Better Late Than Never’ tour, when he was bundled off stage
Birmingham Police confirmed that a 19-year-old man was being held after a potential suspicious bag was found
‘So, we’re going to put the house lights up and can you please follow the instructions given to you from the house staff, stewards and security. Thank you.’
Members of the audience can then be heard saying: ‘What? Is this a joke?’, in the confusion that follows.
The Birmingham arena is one of the UK’s largest indoor arenas and has a capacity of 15,800 spectators.
Audience members have shared their shock on social media, with one person writing: ‘Being evacuated from the Peter Kay gig in Birmingham. No information as to why.’
Another wrote: ‘Waited years to see Peter Kay. Half hour in and evacuated. Wonderful.’
This is a breaking news story, more to follow.
