Four people remain in a critical condition following a shocking incident during Liverpool’s Premier League victory parade on Monday. A 53-year-old man was arrested after a car drove into crowds gathered on Water Street in the city centre.
Merseyside Police confirmed the suspect is white, British, and from the Liverpool area. The force has ruled out terrorism as a motive.
Among the roughly 50 people injured were four children, one of whom suffered serious injuries. In total, 27 individuals were taken to hospital, and 20 were treated at the scene. Some others reportedly sought medical attention independently.
Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “The actual incident in Water Street will live with those people for all the wrong reasons… There are still four people who are very, very ill in hospital and we are hoping of course that they pull through very, very quickly.”
Emergency services responded quickly. Nick Searle, Chief Fire Officer of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, said firefighters rescued four people trapped under the vehicle — including a child.
Footage shared on social media showed stunned onlookers attempting to chase the vehicle before police intervened. Officers swiftly surrounded the car and detained the driver.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer also addressed the incident, stating: “Everyone, especially children, should be able to celebrate their heroes without this horror.”
By Tuesday morning, Water Street remained cordoned off, with police vans and forensics tents still in place. The surrounding area bore signs of the previous night’s chaos, with scattered bottles, cans, and a Liverpool flag still affixed to traffic lights.
The incident has cast a dark shadow over what was meant to be a day of celebration for thousands of Liverpool fans. Investigations are ongoing.
