A day meant for celebration turned into horror as a car ploughed into a crowd of Liverpool supporters during the Premier League trophy parade on Monday (26 May), leaving 27 people hospitalised, including four children. Two victims remain in serious condition.
The vehicle struck the crowd at about 6pm on Water Street, just minutes after the Liverpool Football Club’s (LFC) open-top bus had passed. Videos circulating online showed the moment fans were thrown into the air as the car sped through the packed street.
Source: @BritFirst on X
Emergency services confirmed that 20 people were treated at the scene, while four individuals trapped beneath the car had to be rescued by firefighters.
Source: @NeslyJunior24 on X
Police subsequently arrested a 53-year-old “white British man” in relation to the accident, Reuters reported.
Thousands of supporters had gathered in the area to watch the LFC players parading the Premier League trophy atop an open-top bus.
Source: Liverpool FC on Instagram
The car rammed into spectators about 10 minutes after the open-top bus passed by.
“It was extremely fast. Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car,” said Mr Harry Rashid, who attended the parade with his family.
Another eyewitness told Reuters that many people only realised the danger when others screamed, allowing some to narrowly jump out of harm’s way.
In the immediate aftermath of the accident, angry fans attempted to confront the driver, smashing the car’s windows before police intervened.
Source: @RT_com on X
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Jenny Sims of Merseyside Police told reporters the incident was not believed to be terrorism-related.
“We believe this to be an isolated incident and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it,” she said.
Source: Agence France-Presse
Chief Constable Sims also shared that the arrested individual is believed to be the driver of the car.
LFC issued a statement on Instagram shortly after to address the incident:
Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident.
The football club added that it is in “direct contact” with local police and said it is offering its “full support” to emergency services and local authorities.
Source: Liverpool FC on Instagram
Meanwhile, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the scenes “appalling” and expressed sympathy for the injured.
Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson also condemned the incident, saying it had “cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day“.
Source: Reuters
Reuters reported overcrowding and confusion earlier in the day, with poor signage and crowd control ahead of the parade.
Source: Reuters
The incident has reopened wounds for a city long marked by football tragedy. From the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, which killed 97 fans, to the Heysel Stadium collapse in 1985 that resulted in 39 deaths, Liverpool’s proud football legacy is no stranger to pain.
Police investigations are ongoing.
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Featured image adapted from @BritFirst on X and Liverpool FC on Instagram.