In a scene that turned celebration into chaos, police have taken a male suspect into custody, believed to be the driver of a vehicle that struck a crowd during a victory parade for Liverpool’s Premier League soccer title on Monday. The incident has left at least 47 individuals injured, including four children, according to police reports.
Merseyside Police received multiple calls shortly after 6 p.m. local time, alerting them to a “collision involving a car and several pedestrians” on Water Street in the heart of Liverpool. Following the incident, a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area was apprehended at the scene.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims emphasized the need for cautious communication, stating, “Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision, and it is vital that people do not speculate or spread misinformation on social media.”
Dave Kitchin from the North West Ambulance Service reported that 27 individuals were hospitalized due to their injuries, while another 20 received treatment on-site. Among the injured were four children, one of whom suffered serious injuries.
Remarkably, a paramedic on a bicycle was hit by the vehicle but emerged unscathed. Kitchin noted that some victims sought help independently at local hospitals following this “significant incident.”
Nick Searle, chief fire officer at the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, revealed that four people were trapped beneath the vehicle but were successfully rescued. “Our crews rapidly lifted the vehicle, removed people from beneath, and passed them to our ambulance colleagues,” Searle explained, confirming that fire crews would maintain a presence in the area in the days to come.
Video footage circulating on social media depicted a gray minivan engulfed by onlookers and police before it barreled into the crowd, pushing people along the street until it finally halted, surrounded by outraged fans. Eyewitness Harry Rashid recounted the harrowing experience with his family at the parade, describing the car’s speed as “extremely fast.”
“Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people being knocked off the bonnet of a car,” Rashid recounted. After the vehicle came to a standstill, the crowd surged towards it, attempting to smash the windows, but the driver accelerated again, causing further chaos. “It was horrible. You could hear the bumps as he was going over the people,” he said.
Another witness, Peter Jones, noted that the vehicle sped past him as onlookers chased after it in a desperate attempt to stop it. “He then drove into people, and police and medics ran past us, treating individuals on the side of the road,” Jones described.
As investigations continue, Sims urged the public to refrain from sharing “distressing footage” from the incident. “What I can tell you is that we believe this to be an isolated incident, and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it. The incident is not currently being treated as terrorism,” she stated.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his solidarity on social media, stating, “The scenes in Liverpool are appalling—my thoughts are with all those injured or affected.”
Liverpool fans had gathered to revel in the team’s record-tying 20th top-flight title victory. Following the incident, Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson remarked that the event “cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day for the city.” He added, “Once again, our hearts go out to all of those affected. Liverpool is a city that has a proud history of coming together and supporting each other during challenging times. I have no doubt that will again be the case over the coming days and weeks.”
The football club issued a statement confirming direct contact with Merseyside Police and expressed their concern: “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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