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Man arrested after car hits pedestrians during Liverpool FC victory parade Man arrested after car hits pedestrians during Liverpool FC victory parade
(31 minutes later)
Police called to Water Street in Liverpool city centre around 6pm after report of a collision with pedestrians Police called to Water Street in Liverpool city centre about 6pm after report of a collision with pedestrians
Liverpool parade collision – latest updatesLiverpool parade collision – latest updates
A man has been detained after a car collided with pedestrians in Liverpool city centre after Liverpool FC’s Premier League victory parade. Liverpool FC’s Premier League victory parade descended into chaos on Monday evening after a car collided with pedestrians in the city centre leaving many injured.
Emergency services descended on Water Street after Merseyside police were contacted just after 6pm on Monday with reports of the incident. A 53-year-old white British man was arrested at the scene of the collision on Water Street in the heart of the city, metres from the Royal Liver Building and the town hall after roads had been reopened, after the main parade.
The car was stopped at the scene and a man was detained. Merseyside police later confirmed he was a 53-year-old British man from the Liverpool area. Scenes of jubilation with thousands of Liverpool fans lining the streets to celebrate their club’s Premier League victory were rapidly replaced with scenes of fear and confusion as emergency services arrived on the street at about 6pm.
“Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision,” the force said. The prime minister said the scenes were “appalling”, while Liverpool FC offered its “thoughts and prayers” to those affected by the incident.
The Guardian understands the investigation, at this stage, is being led by Merseyside police, who are being supported by the north-west’s counter-terrorism unit. The involvement of counter-terrorism officers in the early stages of the investigation is a precaution, as detectives try to establish any motive behind the collision.
Footage showed police cordons in place around the heavily littered road, with a large police presence, ambulances and a fire engine also at the scene.Footage showed police cordons in place around the heavily littered road, with a large police presence, ambulances and a fire engine also at the scene.
It is understood that St John’s ambulance workers were among the first at the scene to treat those injured, some of whom are believed to be in a critical condition. A reporter saw two “distressed” volunteer medics being comforted by colleagues as they made their way from the scene. Other images showed a person being taken away on a stretcher and a man walking with his arm around a police officer for support. Upsetting images captured a person being taken away on a stretcher and a man walking with his arm around a police officer for support.
Liverpool FC held an open-top bus parade to celebrate their Premier League triumph, with fans lining the streets along the 10-mile route. It is understood that approximately 30 people were treated for injuries or shock in an Italian restaurant opposite Liverpool town hall, around the corner from the scene of the collision.
The collision came just after roads were reopened after the main parade had finished, the Guardian understands. St John ambulance workers were among the first at Water Street to treat those injured, some of whom are believed to be in a critical condition. A reporter at the scene saw two “distressed” volunteer medics being comforted by colleagues as they made their way from the scene.
Outside the police cordon, Sonny Singh, 40, said he saw an injured teenager and dozens of people run past him “crying and angry” shortly after the collision.Outside the police cordon, Sonny Singh, 40, said he saw an injured teenager and dozens of people run past him “crying and angry” shortly after the collision.
“People were running, screaming… I saw a boy, probably about 15, holding his leg and bleeding. There were loads of people there,” he said, adding that he had heard the vehicle hit dozens of fans. “People were running, screaming … I saw a boy, probably about 15, holding his leg and bleeding. There were loads of people there,” he said, adding that he had heard the vehicle hit dozens of fans.
Singh, from Leicester, had been celebrating with his two sons, aged nine and 13, after the parade. Singh, from Leicester, had been celebrating with his two sons, aged nine and 13.
Matt Cole, a BBC reporter who attended the parade with his family, told the broadcaster: “There were screams ahead of us and suddenly this dark blue car just came through the crowd. It just wasn’t stopping. I managed to grab my daughter who was with me and jump out of the way. The Guardian understands the investigation is being led by Merseyside police, supported by the north-west’s counter-terrorism unit. The involvement of counter-terrorism officers in the early stages of the investigation is a precaution, as detectives try to establish any motive behind the collision.
Matt Cole, a BBC reporter who attended the parade with his family, witnessed the incident. He told BBC News: “There were screams ahead of us and suddenly this dark blue car just came through the crowd. It just wasn’t stopping. I managed to grab my daughter who was with me and jump out of the way.
“It missed myself and my family by literally inches. We then turned and watched what happened momentarily behind us before running.“It missed myself and my family by literally inches. We then turned and watched what happened momentarily behind us before running.
“It was being chased by a group of men who were trying to bang on the side of it and throw things at it. The back of the rear windshield had been completely smashed in, but it just had no intention of stopping.”“It was being chased by a group of men who were trying to bang on the side of it and throw things at it. The back of the rear windshield had been completely smashed in, but it just had no intention of stopping.”
He added: “An entire squad of armed police cars stopped, and people jumped out with rifles and again big medical packs on and began running to the scene of the incident.”He added: “An entire squad of armed police cars stopped, and people jumped out with rifles and again big medical packs on and began running to the scene of the incident.”
One eyewitness said the vehicle reversed before “what seemed like an incredibly deliberate” acceleration into a crowd of people on Water Street.One eyewitness said the vehicle reversed before “what seemed like an incredibly deliberate” acceleration into a crowd of people on Water Street.
Footage appears to show the car hit a number of people before being surrounded by a crowd who apprehended the driver. Harry Rashid, 48, from Solihull, was at the parade with his wife and two young daughters when he witnessed the collision. “It happened about 10 feet away from us … The vehicle came to our right. It emerged from just right next to an ambulance, which was parked up. This grey people carrier just pulled up from the right and just rammed into all the people at the side of us.
Harry Rashid, 48, from Solihull, was at the parade with his wife and two young daughters when he witnessed the collision. “It was travelling south, down Water Street, straight towards The Strand, which is where the docks are. It was extremely fast. Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car.
He told PA Media: “It happened about 10 feet away from us … The vehicle came to our right. It emerged from just right next to an ambulance, which was parked up. This grey people carrier just pulled up from the right and just rammed into all the people at the side of us.
“It was extremely fast. Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car.
Rashid described how crowds began trying to smash the car windows: “Then he stalled for a few seconds, probably about 10 seconds. Then the crowd that was a bit further back started rushing at him trying to smash his windows.Rashid described how crowds began trying to smash the car windows: “Then he stalled for a few seconds, probably about 10 seconds. Then the crowd that was a bit further back started rushing at him trying to smash his windows.
“But then he put his foot down again and just ploughed through the rest of them, he just kept going. It was horrible. And you could hear the bumps as he was going over the people. “But then he put his foot down again and just ploughed through the rest of them, he just kept going. It was horrible. And you could hear the bumps as he was going over the people. Then my daughter started screaming and there were people on the ground.
“Then my daughter started screaming and there were people on the ground. “It looked clearly deliberate.”
“I just wanted my kids to get off the road regardless because I couldn’t trust whether there’s a follow up attack or something like that. Because you are just exposed there on the pavement. Rashid continued: “They were just innocent people, just fans going to enjoy the parade. There were hundreds and thousands of us there because this is probably the busiest part of Liverpool. We were shocked, couldn’t believe it.”
Emergency services arrived at the scene “within seconds”, he said. “Ambulances were already there. There was one right next to where this occurred, so there was a paramedic inside there.
“But then they started arriving within seconds, they’re all trying to get to the crowd and negotiate the crowd, which is very difficult to do, you see, because there’s that many people, they constantly been trying to move.
“I just wanted my kids to get off the road regardless because I couldn’t trust whether there’s a follow-up attack or something like that. Because you are just exposed there on the pavement.
“I saw people lying on the ground, people unconscious. It was horrendous. So horrendous.”“I saw people lying on the ground, people unconscious. It was horrendous. So horrendous.”
Natasha Rinaldi, who was watching the parade from her friend’s living room, told Sky News: “It was so loud. People sounded desperate. And then we looked out the window and we saw the car [had] run over people. Natasha Rinaldi, who was watching the parade from her friend’s living room, said: “People were very angry and shocked, and then the police intervened. And then we heard the ambulances coming.”
“Then people started rushing to go after the driver and they tried to break the car. The police did everything to block and to push people away. We could just hear screams and screams. We were very confused.” North West ambulance service said the scene was cleared by about 9.30pm.
The prime minister, Keir Starmer, and the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, are being kept updated about events, PA reported. Keir Starmer and the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, are being kept updated about events,
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.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.”“I’m being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate.”
In a statement posted on social media Liverpool FC said: “We are in direct contact with Merseyside Police regarding the incident on Water Street which happened towards the end of the trophy parade earlier this evening. In a statement posted on social media, Liverpool FC said: “We are in direct contact with Merseyside police regarding the incident on Water Street which happened towards the end of the trophy parade earlier this evening.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident.“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.”“We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident.”
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region: “Our hearts go out to all of those affected, especially those who have been injured. Thank you, as ever, to the first responders for their professionalism and swift action. Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool city region, said: “Our hearts go out to all of those affected, especially those who have been injured. Thank you, as ever, to the first responders for their professionalism and swift action.
“This is a difficult day for our city region, but we stand together.”“This is a difficult day for our city region, but we stand together.”
A spokesperson for the North West ambulance service said: “NWAS is supporting an incident in Liverpool city centre, following reports of a road traffic collision. A spokesperson for the north west ambulance service said: “NWAS is supporting an incident in Liverpool city centre, following reports of a road traffic collision.
“We are currently assessing the situation and working with other members of the emergency services. Our priority is to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible.”“We are currently assessing the situation and working with other members of the emergency services. Our priority is to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible.”