A press conference was held this evening following this evening's major incident in Liverpool city centre involving a car and a crowd of people celebrating on the streets.
23:31, 26 May 2025
(Image: PA)
A press briefing was held this evening in the wake of a major incident that occurred in Liverpool city centre.
The city centre was teeming with hundreds of thousands of football enthusiasts following today's (May 26) Premier League victory parade for Liverpool FC.
Tragedy struck just after 6pm when a car drove into a crowd, injuring dozens of individuals, including children who were present to join in the celebrations.
Emergency services, already on standby due to the parade, responded swiftly and a 53 year old white British man was apprehended.
In the hours following the incident, Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims, David Kitchin from the North West Ambulance Service, Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, and Nick Searle, Chief Fire Officer of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, addressed the media, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Casualties
A total of 27 individuals required immediate hospitalisation.
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Among the injured were four children.
Two individuals, including one child, have sustained serious injuries.
An additional 20 patients received treatment at the scene for minor injuries but did not require hospital admission.
Some patients have independently sought medical attention at regional hospitals.
A paramedic present at the scene was also injured during the incident.
Three adults and one child were trapped under the vehicle, as confirmed by the fire service.
They were extricated from beneath the car that had driven into the crowds in Liverpool city centre, stated Nick Searle, chief fire officer for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.
A 53 year old man has been taken into custody following an incident where a car hurtled towards a group of people amidst Liverpool's Premier League victory celebrations, with police believing he was the driver. According to Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims, the frightening ordeal isn't being linked to terrorism.
Ms Sims shared at a press briefing that a vehicle had careened into a throng of football supporters in the centre of Liverpool, stressing it should not be considered a terror-related episode.
She laid out the details, saying: "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."
Backing earlier traffic control efforts, Ms Sims highlighted that comprehensive planning had gone into ensuring a safe parade environment.
"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 conveyed.
In the aftermath of the event, Ms Sims has appealed to the public to avoid spreading any distressing content related to the incident online and to submit any pertinent footage directly to law enforcement authorities.
"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," stated Ms Sims.
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Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson also chimed in: "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.
"We won't be commenting any further but will provide relevant updates as and when we know more and it is appropriate to."
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