A teenager was remanded in custody today charged with perpetrating a bomb hoax which disrupted rail and bus services in the West Midlands on the day of the London terror attacks.
Anthony Ellitts, a 19-year-old student, spoke only to confirm his identity during a brief hearing at Dudley Magistrates' Court.
Mr Ellitts, of Showell Road, Low Hill, Wolverhampton, is accused of communicating false information in a 999 call which led to the evacuation of pubs, houses, a church centre and the bus station in Stourbridge, West Midlands, on Thursday.
Army bomb disposal experts later carried out a controlled explosion after a rucksack was found in a rubbish bin.
No plea was taken from Mr Ellitts today and the case was adjourned until Tuesday, when the defendant will appear at Halesowen Magistrates' Court. An application for bail was refused.
Meanwhile, West Midlands Police confirmed that a 28-year-old man from Sutton Coldfield had also been charged in connection with a hoax call. He is accused of using words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress and has been bailed to appear before magistrates in Sutton Coldfield on July 15th.
The charge relates to an incident at a Sainsbury's supermarket in Chester Road, Castle Vale, Birmingham. A package was discovered inside the store and the premises were evacuated before a controlled explosion was carried out by the army.
PA