Liverpool Vehicle Collision: Details, Injured, and Identified Suspect
Liverpool Crash During Victory Parade Leaves 47 Injured, Including Children
In a shocking incident on Monday evening, a car collided with a crowd of Liverpool football fans, injuring 47 people, including four children, during the team's Premier League victory parade in Liverpool city center.
The unfortunate event transpired around 6 PM, as the fans enthusiastically awaited to catch a glimpse of the victorious Liverpool team parading through the area in an open-top bus. The car accident occurred approximately a mile away from the finishing point of the 10-mile parade.
Footage circulating on social media shows the grey Ford Galaxy swerving erratically through the crowd of fans adorned in Liverpool Football Club merchandise. Several individuals were flung airborne as they were hit by the vehicle. Merseyside Police responded to the incident shortly after it occurred.
As the car came to a halt, frustrated members of the crowd approached, smashing its windows. Law enforcement officers intervened to prevent their advance towards the driver.
According to the police, they have arrested a 53-year-old man from the Liverpool area. The authorities have yet to provide any additional details regarding the driver's identity or motives.
The crash occurred on Water Street, a central street near the Strand, known for housing historic buildings like the office block, Oriel Chambers, built in 1864. Liverpool is situated towards the northwest of England.
Twenty people sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene, while 27 people were transported to a hospital via ambulance. Authorities have confirmed that two hospitalized individuals, including one child, have sustained serious injuries.
The Merseyside Police have emphasized that the incident is not being treated as terrorism. The temporary deputy chief constable, Jenny Sims, told reporters it is being considered an isolated incident, with no other individuals suspected in connection to it.
A number of emergency services responded to the scene, including the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS). NWAS was responsible for transporting patients to a series of hospitals: Royal Liverpool, Alder Hey, Arrowe Park, and Aintree Hospitals. MFRS crews promptly dispatched three fire engines to Water Street to free injured individuals and transfer them to ambulance personnel.
Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson expressed his condolences for those impacted by the tragedy and thanked the first responders for their professionalism and swift actions.
The Liverpool Football Club extended their sympathies to the affected parties, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram also expressed support for those involved.
It is worth noting that this is not Liverpool fans' first tragedy. Previous incidents have involved fatalities and injuries due to stampedes, clashes with rival fans, or deliberate attacks. Other clubs' fans have also fallen victim to Liverpool supporters' aggression.
In 1985, during the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus, Liverpool supporters sent Juventus fans towards a wall, which subsequently collapsed, killing 39 people and injuring 600. In 1989, a deadly crowd crush at the West Stand of Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield resulted in 97 Liverpool fan deaths. One of the victims died in 2021, having sustained life-changing injuries in the crush. The police mismanagement of the crowd was eventually determined to be the cause.
Finally, in April 2018, Liverpool fan Sean Cox was assaulted by fans of the Italy-based football club Roma before a Champions League semi-final match. The attack took place near Anfield Stadium, resulting in Cox suffering severe head injuries. In 2019, a Roma fan was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for his part in the assault. Recently, in April 2023, Cox was able to walk again with the aid of an exoskeleton.
Breaking news: The tragic incident during the Liverpool's victory parade escalates, now being classified as a case of war-like driving, following the arrest of a local man. Meanwhile, the Football world expresses sorrow, with sports fans shifting their attention from the thrill of football to the worry over this horrifying act of terrorism.
