Emergency services descended on Water Street after Merseyside Police were contacted just after 6pm on Monday with reports of the incident
Emergency services descended on Water Street after Merseyside Police were contacted just after 6pm on Monday with reports of the incident.
The car stopped at the scene and a man was detained.
It is unclear yet how many people have been injured in the incident.
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.
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “We would ask people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding tonight’s incident on Water Street in Liverpool city centre.
“We can confirm the man arrested is a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area,” Merseyside police said.
“Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision.
“We would ask people not to share distressing content online but to send the footage or information directly to us @MerPolCC or pass on information by calling 101 quoting log 784.
“Information can also be passed on anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111,” the police said.
Liverpool FC said in a statement “our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident”.
Liverpool FC held an open-top bus parade to celebrate its Premier League triumph, with fans lining the streets along the 10-mile route.
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.”
A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said: "We are currently liaising with Merseyside Police regarding an incident on Water Street in the city centre."
Tánaiste, Simon Harris, said: “Our thoughts are with the people of Liverpool this evening”.
He said today was “supposed to be a night of celebration for this city and Liverpool fans.
“Instead we are witnessing some devastating scenes unfold.
“My officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs are keeping me up to date,” Mr Harris said.
British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said “the scenes in Liverpool are appalling — my thoughts are with all those injured or affected” adding that he was “being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate”.
Harry Rashid, 48, from Solihull, was at the parade with his wife and two young daughters when he witnessed the collision.
He said: “It happened about 10 feet away from us. We were just in a crowd and we had no control over where we would be, because it was a very narrow street.
“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 travelling south, down Water Street, straight towards this 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.
Mr 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.
“Then my daughter started screaming and there were people on the ground.
“It looked clearly deliberate.
“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.
Mr Rashid 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.”
More to follow..
News in 90 Seconds - May 26th 2025