Newly emerged footage has captured the terrifying moment a car drove into a crowd of Liverpool fans during the club’s Premier League trophy parade, leaving 65 people injured and prompting urgent questions about safety measures in place during the celebrations.
The shocking video, obtained exclusively by Metro, shows a vehicle suddenly accelerating into fans on Water Street, where around 800,000 people had gathered to celebrate Liverpool’s 20th league title. Eyewitness Radoslav Stamboliev, who filmed the clip, said the driver appeared to be heading “straight for us deliberately, completely straight faced”.
Merseyside Police confirmed that a 53-year-old man from the Liverpool area has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving, and driving while unfit through drugs. The force said the vehicle gained access to the restricted parade area by tailgating an ambulance after officers temporarily lifted a roadblock to allow emergency access to a person suffering a suspected heart attack.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims confirmed the current casualty total: “We now know that 65 people were injured, with 50 taken to hospital and 11 still receiving treatment.”
Radoslav, 27, who had travelled from London to witness the celebrations, described the horrifying moment the car approached. “I heard this massive engine revving behind me and he started to honk his horn as well,” he told Metro. “He lunged forward and it felt like he was coming straight for us deliberately… there were children everywhere.”
He described the scene as chaotic but eerily calm once the car came to a halt. “It was really weird how he revved his engine at us, but then just calmly waited behind other traffic like nothing had happened. When I heard how many people he had injured later on, that was when I realised the gravity of the situation.”
Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram expressed his outrage and concern, demanding answers as to how a vehicle was able to access a supposedly sealed area. “Water Street was meant to be blocked off,” he said, adding that “big questions remain” over how the incident occurred.
The mayor also addressed the storm of speculation and misinformation circulating online. “There’s been a cesspit of hate and conspiracy, and I thank Merseyside Police for quickly confirming the facts to prevent that from spreading further. The suspect is a 53-year-old white British man and this is not being treated as terrorism.”
King Charles III issued a statement calling the scenes “truly devastating” and expressing his “deepest sympathy” to those affected. “What should have been a joyous celebration for so many ended in distressing circumstances,” the King said.
Liverpool FC has offered its full support to emergency services and the affected fans. Investigations are ongoing.
