British Teenager Sparks Las Vegas Security Alert after Hoax Bomb Claim

A British teenager, who sparked a security alert on the Las Vegas strip, has been arrested for allegedly making a hoax bomb claim.

The 17-year-old from Sutton, south London, called police in the UK, claiming there was a bomb under a taxi outside the MGM Grand hotel in the US city.

Scotland Yard passed the message on to authorities in the US, who searched the scene, while British police tracked down the nuisance caller and arrested him.

The security alert came on a day when some of the biggest stars of UFC mixed martial arts were at the hotel for a media event.

Just days earlier, pop star Lady Gaga had performed at the hotel, while Aerosmith and Tiesto had gigs at the venue, the weekend before the alert.

The MGM Grand is one of the most famous of the Las Vegas strip's hotels, hosting major events such as boxing world title fights as well as rock and pop concerts.

The teenager was held on Monday (August 4) and released on bail until later this month.