A Peter Kay gig has been evacuated after a \u201cpotential suspicious bag\u201d was found, police say.<\/p>\n
West Midlands Police<\/a> wrote on X that the Utilita Arena in Birmingham <\/a>was evacuated on Friday evening.<\/p>\n A 19-year-old man is in custody, and the venue is being searched, the force added.<\/p>\n The comedian had been performing at the venue on Friday evening.<\/p>\n Peter Kay was on stage when the evacuation was announced. Credit: PA\/Handout <\/p>\n The Utilita Arena have put out a statement saying: “Utilita Arena Birmingham has been evacuated as a precaution on the advice of West Midlands Police after a potential suspicious bag was found nearby.<\/p>\n “The safety and security of our customers and colleagues is our highest priority. <\/p>\n “We can confirm everyone was safely evacuated and that the venue is secure.<\/p>\n “Ticket holders will be contacted directly in due course.”<\/p>\n On Thursday, the UK’s terror threat level was raised to “severe” <\/a>in the wake of the Golders Green, meaning a terror attack is “highly likely”.<\/p>\n The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre announced the decision on Thursday, a day after two Jewish men were stabbed in north London and in the wake of several attacks in Jewish neighbourhoods<\/a> in recent weeks.<\/p>\n The body, which is based in MI5 but makes independent assessments, previously set the threat level at \u201csubstantial\u201d, meaning an attack was \u201clikely\u201d.<\/p>\n Police outside the arena. Credit: PA\/handout<\/p>\n Head of counter terrorism policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said that police would be reviewing “all events across the country” as a result. <\/p>\n