Liverpool title parade turns in nightmare as car runs through crowd leading to at least 50 people getting injured.
Liverpool title parade descends into chaos after car ploughs into crowd, leaving 50 injured.
After roads were reopened following the major march, a 53-year-old white British man who was thought to be the driver of the vehicle was taken into custody at the scene of the collision on Water Street in the centre of the city, just a few meters from the town hall and the Royal Liver Building.
When emergency personnel arrived at around 6 p.m., scenes of excitement with hundreds of Liverpool supporters lining the streets to celebrate their club’s Premier League victory quickly gave way to scenes of uncertainty and dread.
The North West ambulance service stated at a late-night press briefing that 27 persons were transported to the hospital, with two of them—including a child—suffering from critical injuries.
Merseyside police assistant chief constable Jenny Sims stated that the incident was not being investigated as terrorism and that no more people were being sought in relation to it.
Liverpool FC sent their “thoughts and prayers” to those impacted by the event, while the prime minister called the scenes “appalling.”
The highly littered road was surrounded by police cordons, and footage showed a fire engine, ambulances, and a heavy police presence.
Les Winsper, 55, who witnessed the incident, said: “People started banging on the [car] windows. Then they smashed the windows and he’s panicked and put his foot down. He then hit someone and that person has gone in the air and he’s ploughed through the rest of them. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
He added the first victim was thrown “about 20 feet” in the air by the collision. Winsper’s friend, Craig Steward, 52, said there was “chaos” with “people crying, children crying, shaking”.
He added: “I personally think he’s hit someone by mistake and then he’s put his foot down. It was the worst thing I’ve seen in my life, you see it on TV. That’s why all the kids are crying, because they witnessed it. I’m traumatised.”