A car ploughed into a crowd and injured dozens of people, including children
News
23:21, 26 May 2025
(Left to right) Leader of Liverpool City Council Liam Robinson, North West Ambulance Service's Dave Kitchin, Merseyside Police's Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims and Nick Searle, chief fire officer for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
(Image: PA)
A press conference was held this evening following this evening's major incident in Liverpool city centre.
The city centre was full of hundreds of thousands of football fans following Liverpool FC's Premier League victory parade today (May 26).
A car ploughed into a crowd just after 6pm and injured dozens of people, including children, there to celebrate.
Emergency services were already monitoring the parade and were at the scene within minutes. A 53-year-old white British man was arrested.
Hours after the incident, Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims, David Kitchin, North West Ambulance Service, Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council and Nick Searle, Chief Fire Officer of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, spoke to the media.
Here are all the key points from the press conference...
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Number of casualties
There were 27 patients who needed to be rushed to hospital.
Four of the injured were children.
Two people, including one of the children, have sustained serious injuries.
Another 20 patients were treated at the scene for minor injuries, but did not need hospital care.
Some patients have self-presented at hospitals in the region.
A paramedic at the scene was also struck in the incident, but not injured.
Three adults and one child were trapped under the vehicle, the fire service has confirmed.
They were lifted from beneath the car that ploughed into crowds in Liverpool city centre, chief fire officer for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Nick Searle said.
Man arrested 'believed to be driver of car'
A 53-year-old man arrested after a car ploughed into a crowd of people during Liverpool’s Premier League victory parade is believed to be its driver and the incident is not thought be terrorism, Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said.
'Not terror related'
Ms Sims said the incident in Liverpool city centre in which a car ploughed into a crowd of football fans is not being treated as terrorism.
She told a press conference: “The car stopped at the scene and a 53-year-old white, British man from the Liverpool area was arrested.
“We believe him to be the driver of the vehicle...
“I know that people will understandably be concerned by what has happened tonight.
“What I can tell you is that we believe this to be an isolated incident, and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it.
“The incident is not being treated as terrorism.”
A 'robust' traffic management plan had been in place
Ms Sims said a “robust” traffic management plan had been in place for the parade.
“In the lead-up to this event we had been working closely with event organisers and a robust traffic management plan was put in place for the parade, which included a number of road closures throughout the route and the city centre,” she said.
She urged people to refrain from sharing “distressing footage” from the incident online, but called for videos to be passed to the police.
Plea to the public
“Extensive inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision, and it is vital that people do not speculate or spread misinformation on social media," said Ms Sims.
Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson added: “I would appeal for people please not to share the horrifying footage of the incident on social media – please if you have information forward it to Merseyside Police to help them with their investigation.
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“We won’t be commenting any further but will provide relevant updates as and when we know more and it is appropriate to."