Liverpool parade latest: Man, 53, from Merseyside, arrested after pedestrians hit
Things are developing quickly in Liverpool after a car collided with a "number of pedestrians" this afternoon.
Here's everything we know so far: Emergency service responded just after 6pm to an incident in Liverpool city centre after a car collided with several pedestrians;
The incident happened as up to a million fans lined the streets to celebrate Liverpool's Premier League title;
A 53-year-old British man from the Liverpool area has been detained, but it is not yet known how many people are injured or if anyone has been killed;
The ambulance service said at 9.24pm that it has now cleared the scene - and said it will update on casualty numbers at a news briefing expected at 10.30pm - we'll bring you live coverage here and across Sky News;
The area has been cordoned off and a large number of emergency services remain at the scene;
Merseyside Police are leading the investigation, with officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North West supporting, the PA news agency understands;
The prime minister has described the scenes as "appalling", and thanked the emergency services for their response - while the home secretary has said she is being kept updated by the police.
Health secretary thanks 'amazing' NHS staff for 'heroic' actions
The health secretary has just issued a statement as emergency services in Liverpool work to help people hit by a car that ploughed into pedestrians.
Wes Streeting wrote on X: "I would like to thank our amazing emergency services for their heroic actions this evening in Liverpool.
"My heart goes out to everyone impacted in this horrible incident.
"My department is working with NHS England to keep across any developments for our NHS staff."
Footage shows aftermath of incident
Warning: distressing images
This footage shows the aftermath of the car hitting pedestrians.
Emergency responders can be seen tending to people on the scene, with a large number of police cars, ambulances and a fire engine in attendance.
Watch the video in full below:
Waiting for police to 'establish the facts' amid online speculation
We are waiting for more detail from the police, who have launched a huge investigation.
Sky News' Charlotte Leeming says there was a "strong police presence" in Liverpool before the incident, but this then rapidly expanded as the scene was turned from "jubilation and joy" to horror.
The north of England correspondent adds that there were a lot of people still on the street at the time of the incident, despite the club's coach having passed through around thirty minutes beforehand.
Merseyside Police have now put a forensics tent as well as a large van which acts as a "mobile office and a control room", so that multiple agencies can work together on scene.
Charlotte says: "We see speculation on social media, but we're waiting on Merseyside Police to really establish some facts here."
A "massive operation" is now underway, with multiple agencies, including counter-terror police, now investigating, Charlotte adds.
She says that the priority for the emergency services was to help the people who were injured - though we don't know just how many people have been yet.
There was also "a huge ambulance presence" in the minutes after the attack.
She adds: "I don't think I've ever seen so many ambulances together in one spot.
"They really have got the resources here."
The main road is cordoned off to the public, as well as several side streets, she explains.
'There were a lot injured': Eyewitness describes 'frantic' moment car ploughed into crowds
An eyewitness has described the "frantic" moment the car ploughed into the crowds celebrating Liverpool FC's win, saying: "There were a lot injured."
Peter Jones was at the parade and described the incident as "shocking".
The 44-year-old said: "We were walking up Water Street, thousands around us.
"We heard a frantic beeping ahead, a car flew past me and my mate, people were chasing it and trying to stop him, windows smashed at the back.
"He then drove into people, police and medics ran past us, and people were being treated on the side of the road."
He added: "There were a lot injured.
"We heard it behind us hit the crowds, then we saw half a dozen people [injured] in the road as we were walking up."
"It was shocking. We're back at our hotel now, in a bit of a shock."
The map below details the location of the incident, on Water Street:
'Not unusual to be waiting for casualty numbers at this stage'
Graham Wettone has told Sky News that it is "not unusual to have no casualty figures released at this stage" yet.
The police commentator says Merseyside Police have been "fairly quick and swift" at putting out information into the public domain so far, to prevent misinformation spreading online.
But he says people must recognise that "these are very confusing incidents".
He explains that casualties will be taken to different hospitals, including ones further away than the ones immediately nearby, to manage demand on A&E departments.
Some may be taken to one before being sent to another, while others may be discharged.
Wettone also says that not everybody will have been taken by ambulance, with some taken by police car.
He says: "It then takes time to collate that information" and he adds that "those numbers can be quite confusing in the first few hours".
Asked if it is unusual to lack detail at this stage, he responds that "it doesn't surprise me at all... that there are no factual details yet".
He says a casualty bureau that will collect all of this information will be established, and that this will cross-check the numbers against names to ensure that nobody is counted twice.
"As with most things, the police, the ambulance service, the hospital service will be keen to get these details absolutely factually correct before they release them", he concludes.
Hospital trust urges public not to call
A hospital trust has urged members of the public not to call to ask about their loved ones after the Liverpool victory parade incident because next of kin would be contacted.
In a statement, NHS University Hospitals Liverpool Group said: "Following the incident in Liverpool city centre this evening, we know that many people are concerned about loved ones.
"Next of kin will be contacted, so please help us to manage the incident as best we can by refraining from calling our switchboard."
Police fighting wave of speculation, expert says
We can now bring you some analysis on the unfolding incident from police commentator Graham Wettone.
He has explained how one issue Merseyside Police is facing is a wave of speculation on social media in the immediate aftermath.
"That's always a problem in today's day and age, social media taking over so much news reporting, with so many people as well present at the scene where that awful incident took place, mobile phones out, people recording it, and then posting it almost straight away," he said.
He added: "It potentially is a huge issue for Merseyside Police to try and manage this situation and the inaccurate speculation."
Wettone went on to explain how he had already seen "completely inaccurate" posts, adding it was "far too early to speculate".
He said the local police force had done well to come out so quickly with information on the incident, sharing what they are able to at the current time.
Alongside that, he repeated a police plea to not share images and video of the incident, instead sending it straight to the force.
For context:
Last summer, in the aftermath of the Southport stabbings that took the lives of three young girls, there was widespread speculation over the identity of the attacker.
This led to anger and riots, and violence breaking out across the country.
Ambulance service has cleared the scene - update on casualties tonight
The North West Ambulance Service said it has cleared the scene in Liverpool.
The service said it will give an update on casualty numbers later tonight.
A spokesperson said: "North West Ambulance Service has now cleared the scene following the incident in Liverpool and will be updating on casualty numbers at a press conference scheduled for later tonight.
"Details of this will be announced shortly."
Where did the collision take place?
This map shows the location of the incident on Water Street.
The car smashed into crowds celebrating in Liverpool's Premier League victory parade.
A 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area has been arrested, Merseyside Police said.
Footage shows the car smashing into pedestrians in the street, with people rushing up to hit the windows and police running towards the scene.
Several people were seen being taken away by ambulances and a large police cordon has been put in place.
A large blue tent has been set up, with two fire engines parked in front.
Video shows moment car ploughs into crowd
Warning: distressing images
Footage shows the moment the car ploughs into the crowd as well as the aftermath.
People can be seen swarming around the car and hitting the windows as the police rush to respond.
Just to warn you, the video contains distressing images. Sky News has edited it to not show pedestrians being hit by the vehicle.
You can watch the video in full below:
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