Liverpool: Witnesses describe horror as car ploughs into crowds
With most people enjoying a spring break holiday, it is believed up to 1 million Liverpool fans had lined the streets to celebrate the team as they moved through the city centre with the Premier League trophy on an open-top bus.
The parade began at Allerton Maze south of the city before embarking on a 10-mile route over three-and-a-half hours ending with a finale on the Strand in the city centre.
Chaos erupted on Water Street, about a mile before the parade's endpoint.
The bus had only recently passed the attendees when a vehicle rammed into the crowds, witnesses reported.
Footage of the incident, which was circulating online on Monday, appeared to show the car speed up as it veered into pedestrians on both sides of the street, passing a Hooters restaurant at one point, with people knocked to the floor off the windshield, falling to the ground and darting out of the way to avoid harm.
A 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area was arrested, Merseyside Police confirmed.
Police tents remain at the scene on Water Street (Image: Peter Byrne) One onlooker, Matthew O'Carroll, 28, from Runcorn, saw the car approaching the top of Water Street.
He said the vehicle went past a parked police van at a 'decent' speed and that the driver was beeping as he went through the crowd.
Meanwhile, witness Mike Maddra told the PA news agency the 'car turned left, mounted pavement, come towards us and runs towards the buildings'.
He said: 'we got out the way and it was speeding up'.
Mr Maddra said he thought he saw two people being hit and added, 'it looked deliberate'.
Social media video also showed angry fans converging on the vehicle as it came to a stop, smashing windows before police intervened.
A map showing where the collision took place (Image: PA Wire)
Harry Rashid, 48, from Solihul, described how crowds began trying to smash the car windows, causing the driver to stall for about 10 seconds, before putting his foot down again and hitting more people.
Witnesses told The Guardian the whole ordeal lasted 20-30 seconds, and the first victim was thrown 'about 20 feet' in the air.
Dan Ogunshakin, an off-duty BBC reporter attending the parade, told the public broadcaster he saw people hitting the car before it reversed and then 'it suddenly accelerated forwards', straight towards the surrounding crowd.
'What had once been an atmosphere of celebration and joy and happiness suddenly turned into fear and terror and disbelief,' he said.
Police said the car eventually stopped at the scene and the man was detained.
BBC reporter Matt Cole described how police officers exited a 'squad' of armed police vehicles with rifles and medical packs and began running to the scene.
Twenty-seven people were taken to hospital, and a further 20 were treated at the scene.
Nick Searle, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service chief fire officer, said four people who were trapped under the car, including a child, were rescued by firefighters.
Not being treated as terrorism
At a press conference, Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said the 'horrific incident' was not being treated as terrorism.
Liverpool Echo reporter Paddy Edrich said local Italian restaurant Riva was used as a makeshift triage centre.
'People inside Riva are being treated by paramedics. Some have bandages around their heads and limbs,' he said in a post on X.
'Staff in the restaurant appear to be providing fluids to those being treated and the emergency services.'
Other casualties were spotted being taken away by ambulance to nearby hospitals.
A heavy emergency services presence remained in place for hours afterwards, with police cars, fire engines and ambulances remaining on the street.
A large blue tent was erected on Water Street, with two fire engines parked in front.
The incident happened shortly after Liverpool FC's open-top bus had passed by (Image: Peter Byrne) Liverpool FC said in a statement that the club was in 'direct contact with Merseyside Police regarding the incident on Water Street which happened towards the end of the trophy parade'.
'Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident,' a post on X read.
'We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident.'
Well-wishes flowed from other Premier League clubs, including Everton, Manchester United and Manchester City.
Starmer: Scenes are appalling
In a statement, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: 'The scenes in Liverpool are appalling — my thoughts are with all those injured or affected.'
He later added: 'Tonight, I have spoken to Steve Rotheram about the terrible events in Liverpool and the remarkable bravery shown by the police and other emergency services.
'They are supporting and caring for those injured in these terrible events.
'Everyone, especially children, should be able to celebrate their heroes without this horror.
'The city has a long and proud history of coming together through difficult times.
'Liverpool stands together and the whole country stands with Liverpool.'
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