What we know about the Liverpool FC parade incident
A 53-year-old man has been arrested after a car hit a number of pedestrians in Liverpool city centre during the Premier League victory parade.Eyewitnesses and videos shared on social media have shown the vehicle driving through a crowd as people scatter.Details are still emerging but here is what we know so far.
Live: Police to give update after car ploughs into crowd at Liverpool FC parade'It missed us by inches': Witnesses describe car driving into crowds at Liverpool FC parade
What happened?
A car collided with a number of pedestrians on Water Street just after 18:00, Merseyside Police said.In a statement the force said: "We were contacted at just after 18:00 today, Monday 26 May, following reports a car had been in collision with a number of pedestrians on Water Street."The car stopped at the scene and a male has been detained."Police later said a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area had been arrested and that he was believed to be the driver. The incident is not being treated as terror-related and is believed to be isolated, police said.The ambulance service said 27 people had been taken to hospital for treatment, with two, including one child, seriously injured.Another 20 people were treated for injuries at the scene.Four children were among the injured.Four people including a child were lifted from beneath the car, Merseyside chief fire Nick Searle said.
What did witnesses see?
Video from the scene shows the car ploughing into the a group of people then speeding up before coming to a halt.Other footage shows people striking the car after it stopped, with the back windscreen shattered.Pictures from the aftermath show numerous emergency service vehicles One eyewitness, BBC reporter Matt Cole, described seeing a car coming through the crowd that "just wasn't stopping". He said it was being chased by a group of men "who were trying to bang on the side of it and throw things at it".He estimated the car was travelling at "more than 20 [mph]".He said his initial assumption was that the driver just wanted to "barge through crowds because they didn't want to wait".Another witness, Matthew O'Carroll, 28, from Runcorn, saw the car approaching the top of Water Street.He said the vehicle had been going at a "decent" speed and that the driver had been beeping as he went through the crowd.
Where did it happen?
Water Street is near the Strand, where moments before the incident occurred Liverpool FC paraded the Premier League trophy from the top of a bus.Thousands of people had come out to celebrate the team's victory and the incident occurred about a mile before the parade's finishing point.
What has been said?
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is being kept updated on the latest developments and said in a statement that what has happened in Liverpool as "appalling".He posted on X: "The scenes in Liverpool are appalling - my thoughts are with all those injured or affected."I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident."I'm being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate."Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the pictures were "deeply worrying". "My thoughts are with all those affected, and the emergency services as they respond to what appears a horrific incident," she said.Liverpool FC said it was in contact with the police and its "thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident", while rivals Everton FC echoed the sentiment.Liverpool said in a statement: "Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident. We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident."Liverpool's staff celebrations are understood to have been postponed because of the incident.The Premier League has also released a statement, saying "everyone at the Premier League is shocked by the appalling events in Liverpool this evening, and our heartfelt thoughts go out to all those injured and affected."We have been in contact with Liverpool FC and have offered our full support following this serious incident."
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