Latest news with #footballparade
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Liverpool parade crash latest: Suspect revealed as ‘married father-of-three' as police given more time to question him
The man arrested on suspicion of injuring almost 80 people after a car ploughed into crowds celebrating a football parade in Liverpool has been revealed to be a father-of-three. The suspected driver is reportedly a married businessman who has been described as a 'nice family man' by neighbours, according to The Mirror. Police have been given more time to question the 53-year-old suspect after a car ploughed into a crowd at Liverpool 's victory parade on Monday, as the number of injured people climbed to 79. The white British man from West Derby, Liverpool, remains in custody after he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and driving under the influence of drugs. Seven people remain in hospital in a stable condition after a car rammed into the busy crowd on Water Street and police are speaking to those injured as part of an ongoing investigation. The prime minister visited Liverpool to speak with police chiefs on Wednesday afternoon. Inside the aftermath of one of Liverpool's darkest days Treading slowly out of their Airbnb on to the heavily-policed street, the O'Brien family turned to inspect the aftermath of the appalling events the evening before. Behind the tangled cordon, empty beer bottles and takeaway boxes were strewn across the deserted road. In the distance, a forensic officer checked the road surface for evidence. For the sombre-looking family-of-four, it was like waking up from a violent nightmare, hoping it was just a dream. But it wasn't. Less than 24 hours earlier, the group were among thousands of joyous Liverpool fans packed into the street for their team's Premier League -winning parade. Inside the aftermath of one of Liverpool's darkest days As questions swirl around Liverpool as to how a vehicle ploughed into dozens of people, Alex Ross finds a unified city steely in its determination to move forward Holly Evans29 May 2025 05:00 Why police released suspect's details so quickly Within two hours of a car ploughing into crowds in Liverpool city centre, police had confirmed the alleged driver was a 53-year-old white man from the Merseyside area. No doubt desperate to halt the spread of misinformation online, which had already begun to circulate on social media along with graphic footage of the incident, Merseyside Police made the unusual decision to share the suspect's ethnicity and nationality at the earliest stages of the investigation. It marks a 'complete step change' in their approach to the response to the horrific knife attack in Southport last summer, police commentators have noted. A vacuum of information in the aftermath of the stabbing at a children's dance class was filled with misinformation about the suspect's ethnicity and asylum status, which helped to fuel angry far-right riots which erupted across the country. Liverpool parade crash: Why police released suspect's details so quickly Releasing details of the suspect's ethnicity and nationality so quickly has been described as 'complete step change' from the response to the Southport attack as police try and quash online disinformation Holly Evans29 May 2025 04:00 Met chief: Forces will more often have to release details about suspects earlier Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said in the future 'we would always want to be more transparent in terms of the data we release' when asked if police in Liverpool were right to release the ethnicity of the suspect. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I'm not going to criticise another police chief who makes a judgment in a really difficult, complex situation. Every case needs judging on its merits. I think as we go forward in the future, we would always want to be more transparent in terms of the data we release. Sometimes the nature of the investigation, the nature of case, makes that difficult, but in principle of course, transparency is good.' Asked if moving in the direction of declaring a suspect's ethnicity sooner is the way to go, Sir Mark added: 'In general, I think we have to be realistic and more often… put more personal details in public, earlier.' He added that we are in an age of citizen journalism and 'some content will be all over social media very, very quickly' and people will be 'making guesses and inferences' so 'in that world, putting more facts out is the only way to deal with it'. Sir Mark also said if those facts 'embolden racists' in some cases then 'we need to confront those individuals', and added: 'Trying to avoid truths when half the truth is in the public domain is going to be quite difficult, going forward.' Holly Evans29 May 2025 03:00 The Liverpool parade crash has brought out the best in our police As a police officer of more than 25 years – and as a lifelong Liverpool FC supporter – the events of Water Street on Monday evening were impossible to watch with anything other than a sense of abject horror. An occasion of joyous celebration turned, in just a handful of moments, into one of unspeakable trauma. Whenever I see footage of police officers running in the opposite direction to a fleeing crowd, I remember my years in blue. The painful privilege of policing is to venture repeatedly into the hurting places: at the scenes of crimes, and of every kind of catastrophe. And, in those places, to see things that you can never unsee. In my two and a half decades spent policing in London, I worked with endless vast crowds: at Premier League and Champions League football matches; at Notting Hill Carnival; on New Year's Eve in Trafalgar Square; at central London demonstrations. It is a challenge at the best of times, keeping tens of thousands of innocent people safe as they sing and protest and dance and march. The Liverpool parade crash has brought out the best in our police Merseyside Police's response to a car ploughing into celebrating crowds has been a timely reminder of the force's capacity for great humanity at the very worst of times, says former Met chief superintendent John Sutherland Holly Evans29 May 2025 02:00 Liverpool fan 'pleaded' with driver to stop as he ploughed into crowd A Liverpool fan run down at the club's victory parade has described how he 'locked eyes' with the driver and 'pleaded for him to stop' moments before the car ploughed into him. Jack Trotter, 22, was enjoying celebrating his team's success when he found himself 'face to face' with the Ford Galaxy on Water Street in the city centre on Monday. The stricken Northern Irishman was helped by fellow fans and locals into a nearby pub until emergency services arrived to take him to hospital. Photos of the father-of-one being carried by two firemen while wearing a Liverpool scarf were on the front pages of several national papers on Tuesday. Mr Trotter, from Newtownards, County Down, escaped without serious injury and has been discharged from hospital, but fears he could be left with walking problems for weeks. How a city came together after Liverpool's dream title parade turned into a nightmare This shouldn't have been the story. Crammed onto the waterfront like sardines, breathing in the red mist, Liverpool fans were realising a 35-year dream. In the pelting rain, it felt like nothing could dampen the mood. Their club were Premier League champions, and unlike five years ago, they were there to see it. Little did they know the horrors that were about to unfold. A stone's throw away, a car believed to be driven by a 53-year-old Liverpudlian ploughed into his own people. A devastating turn of events that left 65 fans, including four children, injured - some fighting for their lives. Cheers turned into screams. A dream turned into a nightmare. How Liverpool united after title parade turned from dream to nightmare Liverpool had waited 35 years to celebrate a Premier League title in front of fans, but their dream parade ended in unforeseen disaster. Will Castle reports from the waterfront Holly Evans29 May 2025 00:00 Liverpool parade crash suspect is 'married businessman and father-of-three' The suspected driver arrested after almost 80 people were injured when a car ploughed into crowds at the Liverpool victory parade has been revealed to be a father-of-three. The man arrested at the scene is reportedly a married businessman who has been described as a 'nice family man' by neighbours who were left in disbelief at the devastation that unfolded on Monday, according to The Mirror. Merseyside Police have been given extended powers to keep the 53-year-old man from the West Derby area in custody, after he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and drug driving. The man's identity has not yet been released or confirmed by the police. One neighbour told The Mirror: 'It seems completely out of character. They are such a nice family, the boys are really nice and well-behaved. [He] is a fantastic guy. He came over to help us when our alarm went off once, and then did the same for our immediate neighbours too. 'It just doesn't make sense. It doesn't feel right. They are lovely. The whole thing is so sad - for his wife and children and also for the people who were injured.' Liverpool parade crash suspect is 'married businessman and father-of-three' Neighbours have said his arrest is 'completely out of character' Holly Evans28 May 2025 23:21 Merseyside Police praised for quickly dismissing speculation over Liverpool crash Merseyside Police praised for quickly dismissing speculation over Liverpool crash Merseyside Police have been praised for acting swiftly after a car ploughed into crowds in Liverpool city centre to dismiss any speculation over the identity of the alleged driver. Within two hours of the incident at Liverpool's Premier League victory parade, authorities said the suspect was a 53-year-old white British man from the Merseyside area. Mayor of Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said that false reports of similar incidents elsewhere in the city caused 'real consternation'. Four children were among the 27 people rushed to hospital following the incident on Monday evening, while 20 others were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Holly Evans28 May 2025 23:00 Mother dragged by car at Liverpool parade feared baby son had died A m other dragged on the bonnet of a car at the Liverpool parade has shared the horrifying moment she spotted her six-month-old baby's pram lying upside down in the road after the pair were hit by the vehicle. Sheree Aldridge feared she and her son, Teddy, would die after the Ford Galaxy vehicle ploughed into them in Water Street on Monday evening. The 36-year-old was pushing the pram alongside her partner Dan Eveson when they saw an ambulance making its way down the road, followed by a sudden noise that sounded like a brawl. 'I don't like fighting and get really anxious, so I turned around and wanted to get the baby out of the way,' she told The Independent from her hospital bed on Wednesday morning. Mother dragged by Liverpool parade crash car feared baby son in pram had died Exclusive: Sheree Aldridge feared for the worst after she was struck by the Ford Galaxy vehicle while pushing her six-month-old baby in a pram in Water Street during the Liverpool FC victory parade Holly Evans28 May 2025 21:59 Full statement from Merseyside Police as they search CCTV Officers are scouring CCTV footage to piece together the Ford Galaxy's movements before the incident, Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson. She said: 'I'm pleased to say that the number of people in hospital is reducing as they continue to recover from the awful incident. We continue to support those still receiving treatment and as part of our ongoing enquiries we are identifying more people who were injured. 'I want to reassure the public of Merseyside that detectives are making significant progress as we seek to establish the full circumstances that led to what happened. 'In addition, extensive CCTV enquiries are being carried out across the city to establish the movements of the car, a Ford Galaxy, before the incident took place. 'We have already had an incredible response from many of those who were there on the day, and I thank them for their co-operation with our investigation. 'I would encourage anyone who has not yet contacted police who may have information on this incident to do so. An extensive investigation into the precise circumstances of the incident is ongoing, and we continue to ask people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the incident and refrain from sharing distressing content online.' Holly Evans28 May 2025 21:25
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
‘I'd never seen anything like it': Irish Liverpool fans witness parade crash
Fergal O'Neill (51) and Eugene O'Connor (46) from Co Limerick were among Liverpool FC fans who witnessed the immediate aftermath of a car ploughing into a crowd of people during the club's Premier League football trophy parade on Monday. The friends travelled together with a group for the parade and were staying in an apartment on Water Street, where the incident took place. O'Neill was walking through the crowds ahead of the group – 'about 20ft away from getting on to Water Street' – when he 'saw the car going flying past'. 'There was loads of shouting, then loads of women and children started running at me down the road screaming.' READ MORE In a state of shock, Mr O'Neill walked towards the scene. 'I don't know why but I kept on walking. I got on to Water Street and it was just like a film, I had never seen anything like it. [ Liverpool parade latest: Man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and drug driving Opens in new window ] There were bodies everywhere. There was a lot of anger towards the police. The police had pepper-sprayed a lot of people." He remembers assisting a young man who had been pepper-sprayed: 'I gave him a few tissues and tried to calm him down.' Mr O'Neill recalls seeing the vehicle that had driven through the crowds. 'All the windows were smashed in and the police were fighting with' people who were trying to tackle the driver, he said. 'I keep replaying it. It was a very surreal situation,' Mr O'Neill had been separated from Mr O'Connor and their friends during the commotion, and was unable to return to their apartment on Water Street, which had been cordoned off. He walked to the Adelphi Hotel where 'there must have been 100 people in the reception'. 'Everyone was afraid to leave. There was a rumour that there was a bomb in the train station. The whole city was just unnerved because of that as well. At about 8pm, the two men were reunited and caught a bus to John Lennon Airport, where they stayed overnight before flying back into Shannon Airport on Tuesday morning. 'We came on the scene maybe 30 seconds after it happened,' said Mr O'Connor, of the rest of the group. 'We were on the way up the docks after the festival. There were hundreds and thousands of people so it was a bit crazy ... It was such a joyous occasion. 'We were about 20m away from Water Street and then we heard a lot of commotion and people started coming running towards us. It was mayhem.' He managed to return to the Water Street apartment before access was blocked off. 'Communications were down. Phone lines were down,' he recalls. 'There was so many people in the city it was actually a nightmare to get anywhere. The train station was just overwhelmed, thousands of people queuing for four or five hours to get out of Liverpool. It was carnage. I don't think people knew what was going on.' Jenna Berry (37), from Killinick, Co Wexford, was on Water Street with her husband Alan and their 11-year-old son Theo when the incident took place. The family were staying in Manchester, and travelled to Liverpool on the train on Monday. 'Half way up the street, there was a man who started saying 'Guys, make the way clear for an ambulance'. We heard the sirens and stuff, so then we stood to one side,' said Ms Berry. The family moved out of the 'jam-packed' crowd on to some steps, where they had a clearer view of the scene. 'Behind the ambulance there was a family wagon and the windscreen was all smashed. We just heard people screaming and there was a load of men chasing the vehicle. There were people smashing in the back window, fans, trying to kick in the side window. The police were just kind of watching them and letting them do it.' Ms Berry said they soon moved to the train station, where they found themselves 'locked out' with 'thousands of people' trying to leave the city. After queuing 'for three hours', the family managed to get a taxi back to Manchester, arriving there around midnight. A Liverpool fan from Co Down has said he was in 'agony' after being hit by the car driven into the crowds at the celebrations. Jack Trotter from Newtownards was in Water Street when the car ploughed through the crowds. He recalled how he managed to dodge the full force of the car, but it still hit him. His girlfriend Abbie Gallagher was also hit by the vehicle, but she was not badly injured, he said. Mr Trotter said he was taken by ambulance to hospital and treated overnight. On his Facebook page he thanked people who had sent him messages of goodwill. He said that although he was 'in agony', he was hopeful his injuries were 'nothing too serious'. A 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area was arrested in connection with the 'horrific incident', Merseyside Police said. They are not treating it as terrorism. More than 40 people were injured in the melee. Two who were seriously injured remain in hospital. You'll Never Walk Alone (YWNA) Ireland chairman Jonathan Smyth said he and 25 other Irish fans were enjoying the parade when they heard what had happened. 'Everybody was in a party atmosphere. We were all out cheering,' he said. 'News started going around that there had been an incident.' Mr Smyth said there was a mood of foreboding as people did not know if it was a terrorist incident or if anybody had been killed. 'There was a sombre atmosphere afterwards. People were fearing the worst. There were rumours of incidents at the train station and at a bar. We all just went home. It wasn't a night to be in the pub celebrating.'
