Shocking videos and pictures have flooded social media after a car crashed into Liverpool fans at Monday's title celebration parade in the city center.
Reds fans descended on Liverpool city center to celebrate the success of Arne Slot and his players, who brought the curtain down on a memorable season by lifting the Premier League title at Anfield on Sunday. But what should have been a jubilant day to bask in the glory of a sensational campaign has been marred by the incident.
Merseyside Police has confirmed that a male has been detained, while North West Ambulance Service is on the scene tending to casualties. Up-to-the-minute updates on the incident are available in our live blog.
A video uploaded to X showed dozens of police officers surrounding a car and urging people to stay clear. The clip was uploaded with a caption that read: "Some maniac just ran everyone over. People stuck under the car got absolutely battered. Car doors ripped off."
Another video shows a black car traveling at speed, plowing into a crowd of fans standing in the street.
Eyewitness Natasha Rinaldi told Sky News: "We were having a great time and then we heard some screams. It sounded so loud, people sounded desperate and we looked out of the window and saw that a car had run over people.
"There was a woman stuck over the car and people started to go after the driver and they tried to break the car and then the police did everything to block and push people away.
"We could just hear screams and screams, and we were very confused. It was a horrible scene, no-one was expecting it."
Olivia Williams, senior reporter for our sister title, the Liverpool Echo, reports that "dozens of ambulances and police vehicles" are on the scene in Water Street, with a cordon in place and people forbidden from entering the scene.
Police officers investigate the scene in Water Street
Police officers investigate the scene in Water Street (Image: Getty Images)
Another Liverpool fan on social media shared aerial footage from above the scene, with screens put in place to prevent onlookers from seeing the devastation. Fire crews are also in attendance.
"We are currently dealing with reports of a road traffic collision in Liverpool city center," a spokesman for Merseyside Police said.
"We were contacted at just after 6pm today, Monday 26 May, following reports a car had been in collision with a number of pedestrians on Water Street.
"The car stopped at the scene and a male has been detained. Emergency services are currently on the scene. We will issue more updates as we have them."
A North West Ambulance Service spokesperson added: "NWAS is supporting an incident in Liverpool city center, 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."
Earlier in the day, Slot and his squad were paraded through the city in an open-top bus, marking the first time in a generation that Liverpool fans have been able to celebrate a league title triumph with their players. The 2019/20 Premier League title victory coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning such celebrations were not possible.