Crowd disperses in panic as vehicle crashes into attendees during Liverpool procession, leaving 27 people hospitalized.
Liverpool, England — A car assumed to be driven by a 53-year-old white British resident of the local area crashed into a group of Liverpool soccer fans during a jubilant parade celebrating their Premier League title on Monday, hospitalizing 27 people, with two individuals in serious condition, according to authorities. Initial reports suggested that the incident was not terrorism-related.
Local police promptly apprehended the driver, who was behind the wheel of a grey Ford Galaxy, which collided with a densely populated crowd on Water Street. Witnesses reported seeing the driver engaging in heated arguments with pedestrians before speeding up and plowing into the enthusiastic supporters gathered in the city center of northwest England.
Twenty individuals received treatment at the scene, and it was later disclosed that four of the 27 hospitalized were children. One child and one adult remain in critical condition. Four victims trapped underneath the vehicle were extricated by firefighters.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene on social media, in which people were thrown into the air as the car rammed into spectators. Following the collision, an agitated crowd approached the vehicle, shattering its windows as police officers intervened to prevent them from reaching the driver.
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Jenny Sims informed reporters that the incident was being considered an isolated case and that no further individuals were being sought in connection to it. The event was not treated as terrorism.
Liam Robinson, the leader of Liverpool City Council, expressed his condolences on social media, describing the incident as a dark cloud over what had otherwise been a joyous day. Debris was scattered across the roadways, and emergency services were observed carrying victims on stretchers to ambulances following the accident.
A former Chief Superintendent of London's Metropolitan Police, Dal Babu, suggested to the BBC that the police's swift description of the man they arrested was an attempt to quell social media speculation, as there had been concerns that the episode might have been an Islamist assault. Last year, a similar incident in the nearby town of Southport sparked days of rioting due to online speculation over the attacker's identity.
An eyewitness who identified herself as Chelsea told BBC Radio that the crowd was alerted to the danger only by screams from onlookers. This allowed some to jump out of the way at the last moment as the driver continued straight without slowing down.
Before the incident, there was reported disorder in the city center where the parade was to pass, with spectators becoming confused due to a lack of proper signage regarding street closures or alternative routes to follow.
Notably, Liverpool had last won the trophy during the COVID-19 pandemic, when celebrations were prohibited due to lockdowns. In the aftermath, politicians from Britain and Ireland, where the club is popular, commended the emergency services for their response.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the scene "appalling" and pledged his support for those affected, while emphasizing that he is being kept informed about the situation. Similarly, Liverpool FC expressed their sympathy for those affected and promised to cooperate with local authorities in investigating the incident.
- The car accident that occurred during the Liverpool soccer fans' parade celebrating their Premier League title on Monday led to the hospitalization of 27 people, with two individuals in serious condition.
- The incident on Water Street, involving a grey Ford Galaxy and a crowd of soccer fans, was initially reported as not terrorism-related but is being considered an isolated case by local police.
- Following the collision, the agitated crowd approached the vehicle, shattering its windows, while emergency services were observed carrying victims on stretchers to ambulances.
- In neighbouring towns, similar car accidents have caused unrest due to speculation over the attacker's identity, as was the case with last year's incident in Southport.
