Crowds come into conflict with autonomists in Liverpool; police conclude that the incident does not involve a terrorist attack. - Officers dismiss claim of terrorist incident
A car plowed into a crowd during Liverpool's Premier League victory parade on Water Street on May 26, 2025, just after 6:00 PM BST. The incident left at least 27 people injured, including two with serious injuries and four children among the wounded.
Deputy Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Jenny Sims, confirmed that the incident was not being treated as a terror attack but is being viewed as an isolated incident. A 53-year-old British man was arrested following the incident. The suspect, identified as Paul Doyle, a local businessman and father of three, was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, dangerous driving, and other charges.
The celebratory atmosphere turned chaotic as the grey Ford Galaxy crashed into the crowd, which had gathered to support Liverpool FC after their triumph against Everton. Witnesses reported that the driver had argued with pedestrians before accelerating into the crowd. The vehicle stopped, and people began smashing its windows; however, it continued to drive forward, impacting more individuals.
Eyewitnesses shared their horrifying experiences of the incident. Mike Maddra said the car was driving straight at him and other participants while 48-year-old Harry Rashid noted the vehicle was driving extremely fast. BBC reporter Matt Cole described screams in front of him as a dark blue car suddenly drove through the crowd without stopping.
Online videos showed a dark car heading towards a dense crowd, with uniformed police officers surrounding the vehicle and several people lying on the ground. Emergency services, including the North West Air Ambulance, quickly deployed to the scene, and the area was cleared by around 9:30 PM. Around 79 people were injured, with at least 50 treated at hospitals, and seven victims remained in the hospital in stable condition.
Liverpool Football Club expressed support for those affected, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the "remarkable bravery of the police and other emergency services" that were attending to those injured in these terrible events. Sir Keir Starmer added that "the whole country stands with Liverpool."
The incident significantly overshadowed the typical joy and excitement of the champions parade. Authorities are conducting a detailed investigation into the incident, involving significant resources to determine the full extent of the suspect's actions.
- The incident on Water Street, where a car accused of plowing into a crowd during Liverpool's Premier League victory parade, is being investigated by the Merseyside Police, with Deputy Chief Constable Jenny Sims confirming it as an isolated event and not a terror attack.
- The suspect in the car-accident case, Paul Doyle, a local businessman and father of three, was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, dangerous driving, and other charges following the incident.
- The tragic accident during the football club's championship celebration left at least 79 people injured, with at least 50 hospitalized, and seven victims still in stable condition.
- General news outlets reported on the crime-and-justice aspect of the car-accident, as well as the shocking incident's impact on European leagues, soccer enthusiasts, and the Premier League, with many referring to the stars and stars of the sport who were present during the chaotic event.
