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Dozens have been left injured after a car ploughed into members of the public on Monday (Image: Getty)
Tragedy struck Liverpool’s title celebrations on Monday evening when a car was driven through a crowd of pedestrians, leaving 47 injured, four of whom were children. On what was supposed to be a joyous day for the city, celebrating Arne Slot and his Reds’ Premier League title triumph, dozens were left wounded after a vehicle collided with members of the public on a packed Water Street.
Merseyside Police have arrested a 53-year-old white British man, who they believe to be the driver of the vehicle. He has not been named. A significant police presence remains in the area of the incident, and 27 people were taken to hospital, with others treated at the scene by emergency services.
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Liverpool City Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham spoke on Tuesday after the harrowing incident, which is not being treated as an act of terrorism, telling the BBC that there are "still four people who are very, very ill in hospital." He added: "We are hoping, of course, that they pull through."
The Reds themselves also sent their condolences to those affected by the event, and an email seen by the BBC indicates that any further title celebrations, some of which were planned for Tuesday, have been postponed.
Express Sport takes a look at the horrific aftermath of the incident, including radio listeners calling up in tears, backlash over the identity of the man arrested, and a victim’s tragic admission from hospital.
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Liverpool's mayor has spoken on the tragedy (Image: Getty)
BBC radio listeners in tears
Many woke up on Tuesday morning, perhaps even unaware of the tragic incident that took place the evening before, with local radio station BBC Merseyside replaying live reporting from the event.
The tragedy and a subsequent press conference that shed light on the number of those injured took place relatively late into the night, with the incident itself occurring at 6pm.
As a result, presenter Kevin Duala revealed that some listeners called up in tears this morning, as community leaders were spoken to, and the public was kept up to date on what had occurred.
MP defends police’s identity decision
Much has been made of Merseyside Police’s decision to swiftly reveal the ethnicity and age of the man who was arrested at the scene, and whom they believe to be the driver of the vehicle.
Quickly after the harrowing event occurred on Water Street, it was announced that a male, aged 53, had been arrested. He was described as being white British and from the Liverpool area. In the evening press conference, it was stated that Merseyside Police believed he acted alone and are not treating the incident as one of terrorism.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has now commented on the police’s decision to make details about the arrested individual public, telling Times Radio: "These are operational matters for the police, and it’s for the police to determine how they will respond.
"I don’t think it’s right for politicians to make judgments on that, but I would just add that the police were on the scene rapidly and responded to what was a really horrendous incident. And I pay tribute to those first responders, police and other emergency services, for their tremendous bravery, for everything they’ve done, but also to the community in the way that they’re pulling together in light of this tragedy."
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A man has been arrested after the incident (Image: Getty)
Victim tells his tale
A Northern Irish man has revealed he was struck by the car that ploughed through pedestrians on Monday, and having been treated in hospital, spoke out about the terrifying event. Jack Trotter, from Newtownards, County Down, and his partner Abbie Gallagher were hit by the vehicle.
He told BBC Northern Ireland that he was in "complete agony" and took to social media afterwards to calm the worries of peers, and issue an update on his condition.
"I'm writing this because I've got a million texts asking if I'm okay and it's crazy over here. I've barely any service," he wrote. "The parade was going unreal until the very end. Unfortunately I was hit, however I'm extremely lucky as I dodged the car just in time, however still got hit. In absolute shock how an event like this can turn to such a tragedy."
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A horrifying eyewitness account
One member of the public, who said she was nearly struck by the car, has also spoken out about her experiences, explaining that she 'can’t fathom' why anyone would do such a thing.
"It was jam-packed, we were like sardines walking up the street, then we heard beeping and screaming," Chelsea Yeun, who was walking with friend Francesca and her young daughter when the incident occurred, told Sky Sports News.
"As we looked up, there was a black people carrier driving straight towards us, and me and my friend jumped out of the way and pulled her little girl away. It must have been going about 30mph and as it went past we could see all the windows all smashed in with people chasing down the car.
"Then as we were walking up there were police riot vans at the top of the road. All of a sudden the police and ambulances were coming from everywhere. I can't fathom what would make someone do that, given the amount of children there. It's really scary."
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The ordeal took place on Water Street (Image: Getty)
Manchester Arena survivor hit
Of those impacted by the incident on Water Street, some were survivors of the tragic Manchester Arena bombing attack that took the lives of 22 people in 2017.
That attack took place during at an Ariana Grande concert on May 22 eight years ago, injuring more than 1,000 people. One fan named Frankie, who survived the bombing, was present in Liverpool on Monday and has spoken about how they were knocked to the floor by the vehicle.
"I was at the Manchester Arena incident. I don't want to go out again," the 24-year-old told MailOnline. "The side of the car went into me and I fell to the floor. It's all a blur.
"I've got cuts and bruises and I'll be fine. But there's loads who have got more severe injuries."