Latest news with #DarrenStaples
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
UK man in court after Liverpool parade crash
Emergency services on the scene Members of the emergency services treat members of the public inside a Police cordon at the scene of an incident on Water Street, on the sidelines of an open-top bus victory parade for Liverpool's Premier League title win, in Liverpool, north-west England on Monday. Photo: Darren Staples/AFP Image: Darren Staples/AFP A former British Marine held back tears Friday as he appeared in court for the first time, charged with driving his car into crowds celebrating Liverpool's Premier League win, leaving 79 people injured. Paul Doyle faces seven counts, including dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm with intent during Monday's incident, which marred the northwestern English city's huge celebrations. The 53-year-old was not required to enter a plea during a brief appearance at Liverpool Crown Court, where the judge set a provisional trial date for November 24. Doyle, a father-of-three, was remanded in custody ahead of a hearing on August 14, when he is expected to either admit or deny the alleged offences. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Earlier, he confirmed his name, date of birth and address during a short appearance at Liverpool Magistrates' Court. Doyle, wearing a black suit, white shirt and grey tie, held back tears after being brought into the court from the cells. A total of 79 people aged between nine and 78 were injured when a dark Ford Galaxy ploughed into Liverpool supporters as they celebrated their club's record-equalling 20th English top-flight title. There were no fatalities. Prosecutor Philip Astbury told the court: "This is very much an ongoing investigation. There are many witnesses to be interviewed and a great deal of CCTV to be analysed." Seven people remained in hospital, Merseyside Police assistant chief constable Jenny Sims told reporters on Thursday. Sarah Hammond of the Crown Prosecution Service said the agency had authorised police to charge Doyle following a "complex and ongoing investigation". "This includes multiple pieces of video footage and numerous witness statements. It is important to ensure every victim gets the justice they deserve," Hammond said. UK media have reported that Doyle, who lives in a suburb of Liverpool, is a businessman and former marine, with three teenage children. Hammond said all charges "will be kept under review as the investigation progresses". Family man Hundreds of thousands of Reds fans had gathered in Liverpool city centre for the long parade led by the club's top players when scenes of joy turned to horror. Images on social media showed the car ploughing through a crowd, running over people and others bouncing off its bonnet. Four people, including one child, were trapped under the vehicle, which had to be lifted to remove them, fire services said. In other clips circulating online, the car was seen being halted and swarmed by angry fans, who smashed the back windows as police sought to hold them back. UK media reported that Doyle had been married for 20 years and now worked in cybersecurity. Images on social networks showed him on holiday with his family in places such as Japan, India and Fiji. Police quickly ruled out terrorism, as well as swiftly revealing the suspect was a white British man, in a rare move to quell misinformation online. Almost a year ago, Liverpool and north England saw the worst riots in decades after false rumours spread that the attacker who stabbed three girls to death in nearby Southport was a Muslim immigrant. AFP
IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
Liverpool car-ramming driver suspected of taking drugs
Emergency services on the scene Members of the emergency services treat members of the public inside a Police cordon at the scene of an incident on Water Street, on the sidelines of an open-top bus victory parade for Liverpool's Premier League title win, in Liverpool, north-west England on Monday. Photo: Darren Staples/AFP Image: Darren Staples/AFP A driver who ploughed into crowds joyfully celebrating Liverpool football club's Premier League win is being held on suspicion of attempted murder and taking drugs, Merseyside police said Tuesday. As football fans from the UK and abroad rallied around the port city, the police revealed that 11 people still remained in hospital in stable condition out of the 65 injured in Monday evening's shocking scenes. The team's victory parade was ending in the city centre when the driver of a Ford Galaxy followed an ambulance through a lifted road-block and ploughed into the crowds, Merseyside police said. A 53-year-old white British man was arrested with police swiftly ruling out terrorism. He was being held "on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs," assistant chief constable Jenny Sims told a press conference. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ "An extensive investigation into the precise circumstances of the incident is ongoing," Sims added. Messages of support flooded in Tuesday from around the world. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are injured and affected. You'll never walk alone," said former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, echoing the club's famous anthem which only hours before had echoed joyfully around the city. King Charles III, who is currently visiting Canada, said he was "deeply shocked and saddened". "It is truly devastating to see that what should have been a joyous celebration for so many could end in such distressing circumstances," he said in a statement. The car slammed into dense crowds on Water Street just after an open-topped bus parade with Liverpool manager Arne Slot and star players including Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk passed by. Four children were among those hurt, including one seriously. 'Pandemonium' Hundreds of fans gathered at Liverpool's Anfield stadium Tuesday, many having travelled from around the globe to join the celebrations. While there was relief no one was killed, there was shock that a day of pride and delight had ended in tragedy. "It's devastating... We were all there for the joy of the day," said Adrian Chan, 35, from Singapore. Michael Skabara, 28, a bar owner from Poland and a Liverpool fan for 20 years, was on his first visit. He vowed he would be back. "After what happened yesterday I am definitely coming to a game as soon as I can. Life is too short," he said. Images on social media showed the car ploughing through a crowd, running over people and others bouncing off its bonnet. In other clips the vehicle was halted and swarmed by angry fans, who smashed the back windows as police sought to hold them back. "We could just see a commotion and a wave of people running back towards us," Adam Hughes, 35, told AFP. "It was pandemonium." Four people, including a child, were trapped under the car, which had to be lifted to free them, fire services said. Prime Minister Keir Starmer commended the "remarkable bravery" of the emergency services, adding that "the whole country stands with Liverpool". 'Liverpool family' "Our anthem has never felt more appropriate, 'You'll Never Walk Alone'," legendary former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish said. Everton, Liverpool's Merseyside rivals, said their "thoughts are with all those who have been affected". And great club rivals Manchester United wrote: "Our thoughts are with LFC and the city of Liverpool after today's awful incident." Liverpool's football history has been shadowed by tragedy. In 1989, 97 Liverpool fans died in a crush at a game in the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield. More than 760 people were also injured in the deadliest disaster in British sporting history, which still scars the port city. Police were quick to share the ethnicity of the suspect on Monday, a move one former police chief termed "unprecedented". "I think that was to dampen down some of the speculation from the far right," former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu told BBC radio. Almost a year ago, Liverpool and north England saw the worst riots in decades after false rumours spread that the attacker who stabbed three girls to death in nearby Southport was a Muslim immigrant. AFP
Sinar Daily
4 days ago
- Sinar Daily
Car rams into Liverpool fans celebrating Premier League title in city centre
GENEVA/LONDON - A man was arrested after a car ploughed into a group of Liverpool fans celebrating the club's Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, British police said. Merseyside Police said they were alerted shortly after 6pm local time (1700 GMT) following reports that a vehicle had collided with several pedestrians on Water Street, where crowds had gathered in celebration, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. Police officers investigate the scene of an incident in Water Street, on the sidelines of an open-top bus victory parade for Liverpool's Premier League title win, in Liverpool, north-west England on May 26, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP) "The car stopped at the scene and a male has been detained. Emergency services are currently on the scene,' the police said in a statement. In a later update, authorities confirmed the suspect as a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area. Police urged the public not to speculate on the motive or circumstances, adding that "extensive enquiries' were ongoing. Videos shared on social media showed chaotic scenes as fans were reportedly dragged by the vehicle before it came to a stop. Screams and panic ensued as emergency crews responded. The North West Ambulance Service said it was working closely with other emergency services and assessing the situation. "Our priority is to ensure that anyone in need receives medical assistance as quickly as possible,' the service said. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as "appalling' and extended his thoughts to those affected. "I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident,' he posted on X, formerly Twitter. "I'm being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate,' he added. - BERNAMA-ANADOLU
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
What We Know About the Liverpool Car Ramming
Police officers, and fire services, attend the scene of the car-ramming on Water Street, Liverpool , May 26. Credit - Darren Staples - Getty Images Four people are 'very, very ill in hospital' after sustaining injuries when a car in Liverpool, England rammed into a crowd of soccer fans on Monday evening, Mayor Steve Rotheram said. The collision, which took place in a packed city center as fans were celebrating Liverpool F.C. winning the English Premier League, injured nearly 50 people, including four children. 'Scenes of joy turned to utter horror and devastation, and my thoughts and the thoughts of the whole country are with all of those that are affected, those injured, which of course includes children, their families, their friends, the whole community, Liverpool fans everywhere,' U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said following the incident. Police in Merseyside, the county where Liverpool is located, said a 53-year-old British man was arrested but the incident is not being treated as an act of terrorism. This is the latest major car-ramming incident in a worrying trend across the globe. In April, 11 people were killed and dozens injured in Vancouver, Canada during a Filipino heritage festival in the city. Two people were killed alongside 37 injured in Munich, Germany in February. Here's what we know so far about the car-ramming in Liverpool. An estimated 1 million people were in downtown Liverpool on Monday attending an open-bus trophy parade celebrating their team's Premier League Championship. At around 6 p.m. local time, a car drove into the crowd on Water Street, hitting dozens of people. Although the car stopped and slowed down on various occasions, as seen in video taken by witnesses, the vehicle continued west on Water Street as people tried to avoid it. One eyewitness, BBC reporter Matt Cole, said the car was being chased by men 'who were trying to bang on the side of it and throw things at it,' the broadcaster reported. Another eyewitness, Peter Jones, told Sky News: '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.' The car was eventually stopped at the scene, with people and nearby police officers swarming toward the vehicle. At a press conference on Monday night, Merseyside Police said 47 people were injured. 'We can confirm that our teams treated 20 patients at the scene for minor injuries—these did not need hospital treatment. Twenty-seven patients in total were taken to hospital by ambulance,' said Dave Kitchin of North West Ambulance Service. Kitchin added that one paramedic was struck by the vehicle but did not sustain injuries. At the press conference, Chief Fire Officer Nick Searle from Mersey Fire and Rescue Service said that three fire engines were on the scene within four minutes of the collision and arrived to four people stuck under a vehicle. 'Our crews rapidly lifted the vehicle, removed people from beneath and passed them to our Ambulance colleagues. We then worked with emergency service partners to ensure casualties received medical treatment and transport to hospital as quickly as possible,' Searle added. Merseyside Police said the 53-year-old suspect is a white British man who they believe to be the driver of the vehicle. 'We believe this to be an isolated incident, and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it. The incident is not currently being treated as terrorism,' said Deputy Chief Constable Jenny Sims. In the hours following the car ramming, numerous accounts on social media had spread false information regarding the attack, including the suspect's age and ethnicity. But authorities were praised for their quick response to the incident and swift updates. 'The police acted very, very quickly, really swiftly, to put paid to speculation. I don't think it's worth us speculating on what might have happened with the driver,' Liverpool Mayor Rotheram told the BBC on Tuesday morning. Merseyside Police had in July 2024 come under criticism following its response to a deadly stabbing attack in the town of Southport, north of Liverpool. Three girls were killed as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, a British-born evangelical Christian whose parents moved to the U.K. from Rwanda in 2002, attacked children and teachers at a dance class. Within hours of the attack, false reports spread on social media that the attacker was an undocumented Muslim asylum-seeker. Violent riots erupted across the U.K. after the attack, in which mosques and migrant accommodation were largely targeted. Contact us at letters@
IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
Liverpool parade crash: What we know
Terror at Liverpool parade Police officers stand on duty at a cordon at the entrance to Water Street, at the scene of an incident, on the sidelines of an open-top bus victory parade for Liverpool's Premier League title win, in Liverpool, north-west England on Monday. Photo: Darren Staples/AFP Image: Darren Staples/AFP Four people were in a serious condition in hospital on Tuesday after a car ploughed into a crowd of football fans celebrating Liverpool's Premier League title victory. Here is what we know: What happened? Just before 6:00 pm on Monday, as the parade wound up, a car rammed into the crowd on Water Street in central Liverpool, which had been shut to traffic. The car, blocked by angry bystanders, reversed then accelerated, knocking over people on both sides of the road, according to videos posted on social media. Several people were knocked over or thrown onto the bonnet. Four were trapped under the car, including one child who was seriously injured. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ How many people were injured? The emergency services said 47 people were injured, including four children. Twenty-seven people were taken to hospital, where four were in a serious condition, said Liverpool region mayor Steve Rotheram. Twenty others were treated at the scene on Monday evening and were able to return home. What about the driver? Merseyside Police quickly announced that "a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area was arrested", in an unprecedented move to quell social media speculation. British police do not normally release the ethnic identities of suspects. But the force had to deal last year with the aftermath of a mass stabbing in nearby Southport, in which three young girls were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party. Online rumours spread by far-right figures about the identity of the attacker was blamed for widespread riots targeting asylum seekers. Why did it happen? Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims ruled out "terrorism" as a motive. "We believe this to be an isolated incident and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it," she told a news conference on Monday evening. What don't we know? In line with procedure, police have not released the identity of the man arrested nor given an indication about why the incident happened. Questions are being asked about how the driver came to be in a road that was closed to traffic and whether he panicked when surrounded by an angry crowd. Harry Rashid, a witness who attended the parade, told the BBC the driver looked "emotional" and "agitated". "His hands were moving about. He was trying to close the door of the car, I think, because they've tried to pull the door open and then he was trying to close it," he added. AFP
