A 53-year-old British man has been arrested after a car drove into a crowd of fans celebrating Liverpool FC’s victory parade, police confirmed.
Just after 6pm, as the parade concluded, emergency services, including an air ambulance, rushed to Water Street in the city center following a series of calls.
What we know so far:
- A car collided with multiple pedestrians when it drove into a crowd on Water Street
- The incident happened just after 6pm as Liverpool FC’s victory parade was coming to an end
- Police have arrested a 53-year-old white British man in connection with the incident
- Follow our live blog for more updates
The vehicle struck several people from the celebrating crowd before stopping at the scene, where police took a white British man into custody.
Witnesses reported that people crowded around the car and banged on the windows after it came to a stop.
A huge emergency response is ongoing.
An air ambulance rushed to the scene and landed near the Liver Building, and numerous police cars, ambulances and fire engines lined the streets.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “The scenes in Liverpool are appalling — my thoughts are with all those injured or affected.”
He added that he was “being kept updated on developments” and asked people to “give the police the space they need to investigate”.
Natasha Rinaldi, a witness who viewed the parade from a friend’s living room, described the chaos to Sky News: “The sound was deafening. There were cries of desperation. When we looked outside, we saw the car had run over people.”
“Then people started rushing to go after the driver and they tried to break the car. The police did everything to block and to push people away.
“We could just hear screams and screams. We were very confused.”
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “We are currently dealing with reports of a road traffic collision in Liverpool city centre.
“We were contacted at just after 6pm today, Monday 26 May, 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.
A later update added: “We would ask people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding tonight’s incident on Water Street in Liverpool city centre.
“We can confirm the man arrested is a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area.
“Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision.”
“We would ask people not to share distressing content online but to send the footage or information directly to us @MerPolCC or pass on information by calling 101 quoting log 784.”
A spokesperson for the North West Ambulance Service said: “NWAS is supporting an incident in Liverpool city centre, following reports of a road traffic collision.
“We are currently assessing the situation and working with other members of the emergency services. Our priority is to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible.”
Daniel Jones, 28, was on Water Street celebrating when the van ploughed through the crowd only a few feet away from him and his mates.
He told The Sun: “Luckily my wife had just gone up to the hotel with my three-year-old son.
“I dread to think what would have happened if they hadn’t done that. I was horrified. I was scared.
“There were paramedics on their hands and knees treating wounded people. It was a horrifying scene.”
He added that as soon as the car stopped, those who were not hit crowded the vehicle.”
Daniel added: “A lot of people were evidently really angry. They were smashing [the car] up.
“Police were trying to restrain them. The back of the window was completely smashed.
“Everyone was just jumping onto that car, trying to jump on that car because officers were trying to restrain them.
“They were ripping the register plate off. The back window was broken when the [driver] was still in it.”
A civil engineer, Daniel had travelled from North Wales with his wife Zoe and their young son to celebrate Liverpool’s win.
Peter Jones, 44, from the Isle of Man, attended the parade and described the incident as “shocking”.
He said: “We were walking up Water Street, thousands around us.
“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.
“He then drove into people, police and medics ran past us, and people were being treated on the side of the road.
“There were a lot injured. We heard it behind us hit the crowds, then we saw half a dozen people [injured] in the road as we were walking up.”
“It was shocking. We’re back at our hotel now, in a bit of a shock.”
Harry Rashid, 48, from Solihull, was at the parade with his wife and two young daughters when he witnessed the collision.
“This grey people carrier just pulled up from the right and just rammed into all the people at the side of us.
He added: “It was extremely fast. Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car.
Chelsea Yuen was walking with her friend and her young daughter, and just managed to avoid the car.
She told Sky News: “It was jam packed, we were like sardines walking up the street, then we heard beeping and screaming.
“As we looked up, there was a black people carrier driving straight towards us, and me and my friend jumped out of the way and pulled her little girl away.
“It must have been going about 30mph and as it went past we could see all the windows all smashed in with people chasing down the car.”
Liverpool FC released the following statement this evening: “We are in direct contact with Merseyside Police regarding the incident on Water Street which happened towards the end of the trophy parade earlier this evening.
“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.”
The disturbing reports follow a day of rapturous celebration in Liverpool, after The Reds lifted the Premiere League trophy yesterday.
Tens of thousands of supports flooded the city centre – dancing and waving flags as they braved the wet weather.
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