Four people are said to be ‘very, very ill’ in hospital after a motorist plowed into a crowd of Liverpool FC supporters who had descended on the city center for the club’s victory parade.
Merseyside Police has confirmed that a 53-year-old white British man – whom they believe was the driver – is currently in custody in connection with the incident, which took place on Water Street in Liverpool, yesterday (May 26), shortly after 6pm local time.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Liverpool City Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram explained this morning that there are ‘still four people who are very, very ill in hospital’.
“We are hoping of course that they pull through,” he adds.
While the head of North West Ambulance Service, Dave Kitchin, provided insight into how many people sustained injuries as a result of the rampage while speaking at a press conference last night.
The parade began at Allerton Maze in the south of the city (Liverpool City Council)
“We can confirm that our teams treated 20 patients at the scene for minor injuries – these did not need hospital treatment,” he told reporters.
“Twenty-seven patients in total were taken to hospital by ambulance and we believe two of those, including one of the children, have sustained injuries deemed to be serious.
“Our cyclist paramedic was also unfortunately struck by the vehicle, but we are pleased to report that no injuries were sustained. We also know some patients have self-presented at local hospitals.”
A timeline has been created tracking the moments prior to the incident taking place, as well as when it did and the aftermath.
2.30pm
Liverpool FC’s open-top bus parade started, with the soccer champions showcasing the Premier League trophy to hundreds of thousands of their fans who had flocked to the city to celebrate.
It is the first time the club has won the top flight in front of their fans. The last time Liverpool won the trophy was in the 2019/20 season which coincided with the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and so the team were unable to have an open-top bus parade due to restrictions.
The parade officially started at Allerton Maze, yesterday at 2.30pm, and was expected to last four hours.
Hundreds of thousands of Liverpool supporters were believed to have been in attendance for the club’s victory parade (DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
5.48pm
The open-top bus paraded through the Strand, with team captain Virgil van Dijk, Premier League golden boot winner Mo Salah and the rest of the Liverpool players joined by Calvin Harris – who was DJing at the helm.
The singer’s ‘One Kiss’ was playing as players were greeted by a sea of red, as flares and fireworks erupted in the city.
6pm
Disaster struck on Water Street, which is located off Strand Street, shortly after 6pm.
Harrowing footage circulating online shows a motorist blasting their horn at supporters in the city center prior to accelerating into the crowd, before coming to a stop at the scene. A man was subsequently arrested.
Of the 47 people injured, two are understood to be seriously injured, including a child.
6.11pm
Fire crews were in attendance at the scene, with the service deployed to help free four people – including a child, from underneath the car that plowed through the crowd.
Speaking at a press conference last night, chief fire officer Nick Searle, of Mersey Fire and Rescue Service, later told reporters: “Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service were informed at 1807, we immediately mobilised 3 fire engines to Water Street and were in attendance in 4 minutes.
“On arrival the crews were met with numerous injured people and 4 persons trapped 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.”
Water Street was cordoned off by police, using the force’s vehicles, as well as fire engines, to help do so. Medics were also seen treating victims of the collision on the street.
6.54pm
Merseyside Police announced that a man had been detained in relation to the incident.
Its statement read: “We are currently dealing with reports of a road traffic collision in Liverpool city centre.
“We were contacted at just after 18:00 today, 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. Emergency services are currently on the scene.”
A large emergency service presence pictured on Water Street yesterday after a car ploughed into a crowd (Getty Images)
7.33pm
UK prime minister Keir Starmer spoke out on the incident.
The Labour leader wrote: “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.”
8.05pm
Liverpool FC released a statement on the rampage: “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.”
8.17pm
Authorities confirmed that a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area had been arrested.
They added: “We would ask people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding tonight’s incident on Water Street in Liverpool city centre.
“Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision.”
10.55pm
A press conference was held by authorities, with Merseyside Police stating that it believed the man arrested was the motorist.
Assistant chief constable Jenny Sims said: “The car stopped at the scene and a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area was arrested. We believe him to be the driver of the vehicle.
“Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision and it is vital that people do not speculate or spread misinformation on social media.
“I know that people will understandably be concerned by what has happened tonight.
“What I can tell you is that 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.”
Witnesses describe horrifying scenes as man plowed into crowd of Liverpool soccer fans leaving 50 injured
Witnesses in Liverpool, UK, have shared what they saw when a man plowed into crowds of soccer fans.
Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said the incident was not being treated as terrorism and was believed to be an isolated incident following the arrest of a 53-year-old man at the scene. The force said the suspect was thought to be the driver of the car. He is white, British and from the Liverpool area, UK.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had spoken to the Mayor of Liverpool about the incident, adding: “Everyone, especially children, should be able to celebrate their heroes without this horror.”
At a press conference on Monday evening (May 26), Dave Kitchin from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said 27 people were taken to hospital and 20 people were treated at the scene, with four children among the injured.
He said two of those taken to hospital, including one of the children, suffered serious injuries.
In total it’s been reported that 47 people have been left wounded.
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.
Footage circulating online appeared to show the vehicle speed up as it veered into pedestrians on both sides of the crowded street.
Officers surrounded the car as witnesses attempted to stop the driver, who was eventually detained by police.
Witness Les Winsper, 55, told The Guardian of how the incident unfolded in front of him.
He told the newspaper: “People started banging on the (car) windows. Then they smashed the windows and he panicked and put his foot down.
“He then hit someone and that person has gone in the air and he’s plowed through the rest of them. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Soccer fans were celebrating Liverpool FC’s Premier League success (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Also speaking to The Guardian, a woman called Chelsea said that the driver was showing no sign of slowing down.
“With the commotion, that was the only reason we looked up, and thankfully, looked up and managed to jump out [of] the way in time,” she shared.
Another witness, who was walking with a group of friends, said he saw a car ‘speeding up’ and hitting pedestrians.
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 that it ‘looked deliberate’.
It’s been suggested that the man drove the car into the crowd on purpose (DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
Elsewhere in a statement, Sir Keir Starmer said: “The scenes in Liverpool are appalling — my thoughts are with all those injured or affected.”
He later added: “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.”
