Liverpool parade latest – 50 hospitalised, man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, driving while unfit through drugs

Fifty people were hospitalised after a car collided with pedestrians at Liverpool’s Premier League trophy parade on Monday.

A 53-year-old white British man from West Derby in Liverpool has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving offences and driving while unfit through drugs, Merseyside Police have confirmed. He remains in custody with the investigation team granted further time to continue questioning the suspect, which will remain in place until Thursday.

On Wednesday, police confirmed seven of the 79 people who had sustained injuries as a result of the incident remain in hospital.

Police say the suspect followed an ambulance through a roadblock on Water Street in the city centre after this had been temporarily lifted due to a member of the public suffering a suspected heart attack.

Water Street has subsequently reopened to vehicles and pedestrians after the police cordon was stood down.

“I’m pleased to say that the number of people in hospital is reducing as they continue to recover from the awful incident,” Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said on Wednesday.

“We continue to support those still receiving treatment and as part of our ongoing enquiries we are identifying more people who were injured.”

The collision is being treated as an isolated incident and police are not looking for anyone else in relation to it. The incident is not being treated as terrorism, authorities have confirmed.

Police confirmed work is ongoing to identify other people affected and due to the number of victims other neighbouring forces have stepped in to assist.

Detectives are speaking to witnesses, including those injured at the scene and members of the emergency services, as they look to get a “full picture” of what happened, police say.

They are also studying closed circuit television (CCTV) in the city to establish the movements of the car in question — a grey Ford Galaxy — before the incident.

Authorities have again asked the public not to speculate or share disinformation while the investigation is ongoing.

Speaking on Tuesday, Chief Constable Sims said: “There was no intelligence to suggest an incident of this nature would take place.

“I have no doubt regarding the impact this appalling incident has had on those who were injured, their family and friends, and for those who witnessed the incident unfolding in front of them. I want to personally thank the public for their support for first responders, who were on the scene in seconds.”

Liverpool confirmed on Monday the club were in contact with police and said they were continuing to support emergency services and local authorities.

“Hundreds of thousands” of people had flocked to the city centre to celebrate the club’s first Premier League title since the Covid-19 pandemic-disrupted 2019-20 season.

What exactly happened?

Liverpool’s victory parade was scheduled to begin at 2:30pm (BST) and last four hours, with two open-top buses carrying players and staff taking a 15km route through the city as the club and supporters celebrated a first Premier League title since the Covid-19 pandemic-disrupted 2019-20 season.

Merseyside Police had warned of a high volume of people coming into the city ahead of the parade, with “hundreds of thousands” of people described as attending.

Police said they received reports shortly after 6pm of a car colliding with a number of pedestrians on Water Street in Liverpool city centre.

Video footage shows the car, surrounded by a large crowd, moving slowly before speeding up and knocking multiple pedestrians to the ground.

A man was detained and Chief Constable Sims told a press conference on Monday evening this was believed to be the driver of the vehicle involved.

Police confirmed on Tuesday that Water Street had been closed to traffic, but the roadblock was temporarily lifted to allow ambulance crew through to treat a member of the public who was having a suspected heart attack, and the car followed the ambulance through the road block.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) attended the scene, including an air ambulance, to administer aid. A cyclist paramedic was also struck by the vehicle but did not sustain any injuries.

The parade marked Liverpool’s first opportunity in 35 years to fully celebrate an English top-flight title. The 2020 title coronation was played behind closed doors and a parade was not permitted due to the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Liverpool secured the Premier League title with victory over Tottenham Hotspur on April 27. The club received the Premier League trophy following their final top-flight game of the campaign against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

What do we know about casualties?

NWAS said on Monday that 27 people had been taken to various local hospitals by ambulance, with two of those sustaining serious injuries.

Twenty were treated at the scene for minor injuries, which did not need hospital treatment. Some patients also self-presented at local hospitals following the incident.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said when they arrived on the scene, four people were trapped under a vehicle, including one child.

On Monday, NWAS said one of those who suffered serious injury is a child, with four other children among those hurt.

On Tuesday afternoon, police said of the 50 eventually hospitalised, 11 remained in for treatment and are in a stable condition.

What else have the authorities said?

Emergency services described arriving on scene and working quickly to attend to the injured and transport patients to hospital.

David Kitchin of NWAS said: “We’d like to extend our thanks to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, and Merseyside Police, both of whom assisted in attending to the injured in very rapid sequence, as did many supporters in the city centre.”

Nick Searle of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service added: “Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service were informed at 6:07pm. We immediately mobilised three fire engines to Water Street and were in attendance in four minutes. On arrival, the crew were met with numerous injured people and four persons trapped under a vehicle. Our crews rapidly lifted the vehicle, removed three adults and one child from underneath, and passed them to our ambulance service colleagues.”

Detective Police Superintendent Jaundrill said on Tuesday detectives were making “significant progress” as they attempt to establish the full circumstances that led to the incident, and “bring the person responsible to justice”.

In a statement released shortly after the collision and again during Monday and Tuesday’s press conferences, Merseyside Police reiterated the importance of not speculating on the circumstances of the incident and spreading misinformation on social media.

The authorities also addressed the organisation of the event in the wake of the incident.

Emily Spurrell, Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside, told BBC Radio Merseyside: “There was a huge amount of planning that went into yesterday and obviously there will be reflections in terms of what happened and how the car got through, so that will definitely be looked at.”

Asked if Merseyside Police had been overstretched across a weekend where the city also hosted music event Radio 1’s Big Weekend at Sefton Park and with the visit of cruise liner Cunard Queen Anne, Spurrell replied: “There will always be a review and assessment as to what pressure on resources were. Merseyside Police are very robust and very good at planning these events.

“We have brilliant officers and staff who will come on and do over time. I will ask those questions and make sure the chief constable is satisfied that everything which was planned ahead was all manageable. It’s hard to speculate at this point but there is nothing to suggest the police response was overwhelmed or over capacity.”

Chief Constable Sims added: “In the lead-up to this event, we have been working closely with event organisers, and a robust traffic management plan was put in place for the parade, which included a number of road closures throughout the route and the city centre.”

What did eyewitnesses say?

Eyewitness Jean Leroux, 34, told The Athletic: “Suddenly, we saw people running and screaming in terror with blood on them. There was so much panic and chaos. When we looked down Water Street, we could see the car involved surrounded by fans trying to get to the driver. It was mayhem. People were shouting ‘he’s killed a kid’.”

“I just don’t understand how that car was able to get down Water Street. I was in that same spot about four hours earlier and there were metal barriers blocking it off. With thousands of fans in the area with the parade having just ended, there shouldn’t have been cars anywhere near the crowds. I just feel so sad and empty. Until that point it had been one of the best days of my life.”

Eyewitness Mark Madden, 41, told The Athletic: “As the parade had just finished, there were thousands of fans going in the opposite direction. He was going against the crowd. Cars shouldn’t have been there.

“I saw a young kid nearly knocked over close to the William Hill (betting shop) on Dale Street. That’s when members of the public tried to stop him. People were shouting ‘catch that ****er’ and started hitting the car. The back window was smashed in.

“I was behind the car when he suddenly started reversing and I had to jump out of the way.

“Some tried to drag him out of the car but he sped off further down Dale Street. How he managed to get so close to the waterfront I just don’t understand. Why wasn’t he stopped? It destroyed what until that point had been the perfect day.”

Nathan Johnson offered on social media to help and ended up transporting 26 people back to different locations. He told The Athletic: “I never expected my initial tweet offering to help to blow up like it did. It was without hesitation. This city and football club have helped me in more ways than I could have ever helped anyone. Nobody looks out for each other like we do.”

Has there been any other reaction?

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The scenes in Liverpool are appalling — my thoughts are with all those injured or affected.

“I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident.

“I’m being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate.”

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk wrote on Instagram: “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected. Praying for a speedy recovery for everyone who suffered injuries. We are all with you.”

Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold posted on social media: “My thoughts are with the whole city, especially all affected by yesterday’s devastating events. Hopefully those who were injured will make a full recovery and the city will continue to pull together as it always does.”

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “My family and I are shocked and devastated. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are injured and affected. You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

A Liverpool statement read: “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.”

Former Liverpool manager Sir Kenny Dalglish said: “Shocked, horrified and deeply saddened about what happened at the end of the parade today.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone and their families who have been impacted by today’s tragic event.

“Our anthem has never felt more appropriate, You’ll Never Walk Alone. Your Liverpool family are behind you.”

‘Elation replaced by shock, fear and panic’

By The Athletic’s James Pearce, in Liverpool

For so long it was a day of unbridled joy.

Hundreds of thousands of supporters lined the parade route through the streets of Liverpool to pay homage to their Premier League title-winning heroes. Not even torrential rain could dampen the mood as a celebratory red haze hung over a triumphant city.

‘This is by far the number one (best footballing experience).” head coach Arne Slot said. “This is beyond what you can expect. What you can dream of? Maybe. It’s unbelievable.

“You can’t imagine what you see. I’ve won a few things before and that was so beautiful, but you can’t compare this with anything. Every age is here, you look into their eyes. You can hardly imagine there are more citizens of Liverpool, all through the route there are so many people. It is beyond my dreams.”

At 5.45pm the bus carrying Slot and his players passed the iconic Liver Building as the fireworks lit up the sky and families cheered with delight. Some 20 minutes later the feeling in the same spot was very different as the sound of sirens grew louder and louder. Then an air ambulance emerged.

I watched the parade with my father and 12-year-old son from the balcony of a friend’s apartment on The Strand. Suddenly, messages started to filter through that there had been a serious incident on Water Street, close to the town hall, just 300 yards away.

When I made my way down to street level, it became clear that elation had been replaced by a sense of shock, fear and panic. There were fans weeping and consoling each other as they relived the horrific scenes they had just witnessed.

There was also a growing feeling of anger and despair that such an eagerly-awaited occasion could be blighted like this.

Additional reporting: Ali Rampling, Caoimhe O’Neill, Gregg Evans, Greg O’Keeffe

(Top photo: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)