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Liverpool parade latest: King thanks emergency services at 'heartbreaking time' for people of city

Liverpool parade latest: King thanks emergency services at 'heartbreaking time' for people of city

Sky News27-05-2025
King 'deeply shocked' by 'devastating' events in Liverpool
The King has shared a message on social media.
He described it as "truly devastating" to see "what should have been a joyous celebration for so many" end in such "distressing circumstances".
"My wife and I were deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the terrible events that took place in Liverpool on Monday," he said.
"Our prayers and deepest sympathy are with all those who have been affected," he continued, adding he has particular "gratitude" for emergency services and first responders.
See the full statement below...
Witness says driver 'revved so hard'
A witness to last night's incident has described the moment he heard the driver of the car revving his engine before hitting people.
"We just heard this screaming and we just saw the car coming towards us and he revved so hard, that's all I can get out my head, the car was revving so hard and then there were just people laid all over," Paul told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"And I just can't get this picture of this poor lady just laid under the front of the car, it was horrendous."
Paul says he took cover on the side of the road before people living in the adjacent block of flats let them into their room to get off the street.
Watch: Moment car drives into crowds in Liverpool
'Heroes' at Indian restaurant helped turn it into makeshift triage centre
We've heard today of the extraordinary compassion shown by Liverpudlians last night.
One such example comes from Mowgli - an Indian street food restaurant in the city centre - which emergency services used as a triage centre for injured people.
A member of the emergency crews told Sky News the restaurant's staff responded by putting "all hands on deck".
"The duty managers went above and beyond to help us and we couldn't have asked for more from them," they said.
"I was tasked to deal with the staff directly to sort the triage centre out, and they were an absolute credit to Mowgli leadership.
"They assisted the injured people, provided aid to emergency services and were on hand all night to assist where they could. Heroes."
As a reminder, nearly 50 people were hurt after the incident, with 27 people being taken to various hospitals across Liverpool.
Witness: 'All you heard was screaming, it was disgusting'
By Ella Griffith, North of England producer in Liverpool
Hannah and Gavin came from Pembrokeshire to celebrate Liverpool's Premier League title win yesterday.
One of the best days of Gavin's life quickly turned into one of the worst.
"All you heard was screaming," he says, getting tearful. "It was disgusting, just screams and people scared for their lives."
The bottom of Water Street, opposite the Liver Building, is still cordoned off with police tape and dozens of media organisations reporting on what happened last night.
A number of police officers are standing guard, and 50 metres up the road, a large white police van is blocking the road and the view of the town hall. Discarded bottles, rubbish and a bike remain untouched.
Hannah said they'd had an "amazing day" but is traumatised this morning, shaking as she spoke.
She was on Water Street and didn't see the car, but heard the screaming, the police shouting for people to go, and people lying on the floor.
She said she heard someone saying a child had been hurt.
Hannah added that people didn't realise what had happened, and she panicked as she tried to find her partner Gavin.
'We are all with you,' Liverpool captain van Dijk says
Liverpool FC captain Virgil van Dijk says he is "praying for a speedy recovery" for all those injured during yesterday's incident.
The Dutch defender posted on Instagram: "My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected. Praying for a speedy recovery for everyone who suffered injuries.
"We are all with you."
Watch: Crowds swarm car and smash windows after collision
This video shows the aftermath of the collision as dozens of people swarm around the vehicle smashing its windows before a police officer gets in the passenger seat.
Liverpool hospital staff cancel strike
Workers at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital have cancelled planned strike action.
More than 50 workers were set to walk out today after concerns that staff burnout and understaffing were putting patients at risk.
But Unite regional officer Derek Jones said: "Following yesterday's tragic events in Liverpool, members took the immediate decision to suspend action so they could provide full support to the major incident which has been declared by the hospital trust."
In pictures: Forensic teams at scene
Forensic teams in white suits have been arriving at the scene on Water Street in central Liverpool in the past hour.
The Sky team at the site say the forensics unit is taking photos of evidence and dipping in and out of the blue tent.
Here's what we know - and what we don't
Here's what we know so far about yesterday's incident in Liverpool: A car drove through a crowd of people in Liverpool city centre yesterday at around 6pm;
The road had been closed to normal traffic for Liverpool FC's Premier League trophy parade;
Merseyside Police said it had arrested a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area;
Emergency services said 27 people were taken to hospitals with injuries and that two people, including one child, suffered serious injuries;
Three adults and one child were removed from beneath the vehicle, the fire service said.
We still don't know the full identity of the man arrested by police, who is believed to be the driver. We also don't know the driver's motive or how the car was able to access a closed road.
And we also don't know the names of those injured.
Farage condemns 'mindless act of violence'
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has condemned yesterday's incident in Liverpool as a "mindless act of violence".
"Our thoughts are very much with Liverpool Football Club, their supporters, who were celebrating after an absolutely fantastic season that they had," he says.
"And our thoughts go out to all of them after that mindless act of violence. We also thank the members of the public who did all they could to help the victims and of course, our emergency services."
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