Liverpool police forces were blindsided by parade car incident despite 'months of preparations'
On Monday, a 53-year-old man is believed to have acted alone in driving into a crowd near Liverpool City Center at the tail end of the Reds' parade commemorating the club's 20th league title. He has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Merseyside Police assistant chief constable Jenny Simms gave a press conference on Tuesday afternoon addressing how the driver was able to enter the closed-off Water Street, citing how the suspect was "able to follow an ambulance" only "after the road block was temporarily lifted so that the ambulance crew could attend to a member of teh public who was having a suspected heart attack."
'We had worked extensively with event organizers and key partner agencies in the months ahead of the potential parade," Simms stated.
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"A robust traffic plan was in place, which included a number of local authority road closures throughout the route and the city center."
"This included Water Street, which was closed to traffic," she continued. It is believed that the driver of the Ford Galaxy car involved in this incident was able to follow an ambulance onto Water Street after the roadblock was temporarily lifted so that the ambulance crew could attend to a member of the public who was having a suspected heart attack."
"There was no intelligence to suggest an incident of this nature would take place. And as we previously stated, the incident is not being treated as terror."
READ MORE: 50 Liverpool fans treated in hospital after horrific parade incident
READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold sends heartfelt message to Liverpool after bus parade incident
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