Merseyside Police have arrested a 53-year-old white British man following a car ploughing into a crowd of people in Liverpool city centre amid the Premier League title celebrations
22:20, 26 May 2025Updated 22:20, 26 May 2025
police
Police made an arrest earlier today(Image: PA)
What was meant to be a celebration turned into horror scenes as Liverpool fans cheered on their Premier League winners.
But on a packed street a car sped up and seemingly ploughed into supporters. Multiple people were rushed to hospital - leading to a huge response from the emergency services.
Later police arrested a 53-year-old white male after a vehicle ploughed through crowds of people in Liverpool. Here’s everything we know about the incident which happened on a day of celebration for Liverpool’s football fans, after hundreds of thousands travelled to the city following their team’s Premier League victory.
Driver ‘stalled’ before ‘ploughing’ forwards
The incident happened on Water Street in the city earlier this evening. In a shocking clip viewed by the Daily Star, a male at the helm of a black vehicle can be seen pausing briefly, before surging forward into a terrified crowd. At one point, a member of the crowd opens the driver's door, but it's swiftly closed as the car picks up speed.
We have chosen not to distribute the video, which was filmed by an eyewitness only metres away from the car.
In the footage, you can see a crowd hurling abuse at the man in a black people carrier. He backs the car up as they yell at him. But then he accelerates and honks his horn before speeding up. The door opens for a moment before the clip concludes.
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ambulances
Ambulances were quick to the scene(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Merseyside Police make arrest
In an effort to avoid any unnecessary speculation, Merseyside Police stated: "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. Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision."
In an accompanying picture, the words “major incident” appear.
police
Police appeared to dub the situation a 'major incident'(Image: PA)
‘Like sardines’
Terrified onlookers described the incident to Sky News, with Chelsea Yuen saying: “We were literally like sardines walking up the street, and then we heard beeping and screaming and when we looked up, there was a black, people carrier, driving straight towards us.
"Me and my friend Francesca jumped out the way and pulled her little girl out the way."
Doors ‘ripped off’ car
Dramatic footage reveals police officers rushing to the scene, cordoning off the area as onlookers are moved to safety.
on Water Street near the Liver Building
Police and emergency personnel dealing with the incident on Water Street(Image: PA)
An upsetting commentary on a separate video declared: "Some maniac just ran everyone over. People stuck under the car got absolutely battered. Car doors ripped off."
Prime Minister being kept up to date
Sir Keir Starmer expressed his dismay at the chaos in Liverpool, stating: "The scenes in Liverpool are appalling - my thoughts are with all those injured or affected.
"The scenes in Liverpool are appalling - my thoughts are with all those injured or affected."
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Starmer added: "I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident. I'm being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate.
"I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident. I'm being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate."