19-year-old removed from court after undressing in bomb case

A 19-year-old man accused of a bomb hoax that forced the evacuation of a Peter Kay comedy show was removed from his own court hearing after he began to undress. Omar Majed appeared at Birmingham Crown Court via videolink from HMP Brinsford on Tuesday, charged with communicating false information to police.

The hearing was cut short when prison officers escorted Majed from the room after he started to take off his prison-issued grey tracksuit bottoms. Judge Andrew Smith KC was attempting to address the defendant at the time. The judge stated for the court record that prison staff had understandably removed him. Majed was not asked to enter a plea during the hearing due to the need for psychiatric reports.

He was remanded into custody, with a further case management hearing scheduled for July 27. A provisional two-week trial date has been set for November 3.

The charge relates to an incident on May 1 at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, where comedian Peter Kay was performing. According to authorities, the evacuation was ordered after a report of a suspicious bag left in the area. The show, which was approximately 45 minutes into Kay's performance, was cancelled, and approximately...