Birmingham, England, rang in the new year with a countdown to absolutely nothing—for the second straight year. Hundreds of people packed Centenary Square on New Year's Eve after posts on social media touted a fireworks show in the city center, complete with promotional graphics and timings, the Telegraph reports. Videos shared online showed crowds looking skyward minutes before midnight, only to drift away when it became obvious there was no display.
Police had already warned that no official fireworks event was planned and that online adverts were bogus, echoing a similar episode last year when thousands turned up after viral posts promised food stalls, performances, and a "magnificent" show. Birmingham hasn't hosted a city center New Year's Eve fireworks display since 2017, but mocked-up adverts continued to circulate, with one claiming the festivities would run from "8pm to 12.30pm [sic]." Officers were deployed in the square this year to tell attendees there was no event.
West Midlands Police said such hoaxes are more than a prank, warning that misinformation about phantom celebrations can strain public transport, add to congestion and create "real safety issues" when large crowds converge on a nonexistent show. The Guardian reports that other UK cities have faced similar hoaxes. In December, tourists in London were disappointed when a "winter wonderland" Christmas market turned out to be a hoax promoted with AI-generated images.
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