A day of celebrations turned to devastation after horrific scenes unfolded on Water Street
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Police at the scene on Water Street.(Pic Andrew Teebay).
Police at the scene on Water Street on Tuesday morning (Pic Andrew Teebay).
(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
A day of celebrations turned to horror on Monday when a car was driven into people after the Liverpool FC Premier League title parade. A large police cordon remains in place on Tuesday morning following the incident on Water Street.
This distressing story is still developing and the ECHO will continue to bring you the latest updates. Merseyside Police received reports just after 6pm on Monday that a car had hit a number of Liverpool FC fans after the parade.
A 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area has been arrested in connection with the incident. Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims held a press conference last night and said the force believes the man arrested is the driver of the vehicle that ploughed in to fans.
The force also do not believe the incident was a terror-related attack and said investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances that led up to the incident. ACC Sims added: "Extensive enquires 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.
"I know that people will understandably be concerned by what has happened tonight. What I can tell you is 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. We would ask that people refrain from sharing distressing footage from the incident online and please share any information directly with our investigation team."
At the same press conference last night, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said that four people were trapped under the car when they arrived on Water Street. Dave Kitchin from North West Ambulance Service provided an update on the number of people injured in the incident.
Mr Kitchin confirmed 27 people were taken to hospital and 20 people were treated at the scene, with four children among the injured. He said two of those taken to hospital, including one of the children, suffered serious injuries.
Liverpool City Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram provided an update on those injured this morning. The 63-year-old said four people are still “very, very ill in hospital” after the incident and is hopeful that those seriously injured “pull through very, very quickly."
Mr Rotheram was speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday as he said: “The actual incident in Water Street will live with those people for all the wrong reasons, and that’s where we have to really focus our minds. There are still four people who are very, very ill in hospital and we are hoping of course that they pull through very, very quickly.”
ECHO reporters have been at the scene this morning as a huge police cordon remains in place. The cordon started from the junction of Temple Street and Dale Street and was in place to the bottom of Water Street.
Roads leading to Dale Street such as Eberle Street, Hackins Hey and part of Exchange Flags were also blocked off by police. This was also the situation for roads leading to Water Street.
A huge cordon remained at the top of Castle Street outside the town hall, with several police officers guarding the scene. People travelling to work were told to find alternative routes and officers said it was unclear when the roads would reopen. The Strand remains open for cars and pedestrian.
Due to the closure of Dale Street all Arriva North West and Stagecoach cross-river services are currently terminating at Whitechapel. The journeys will resume journeys at Sir Thomas Street, omitting Cook Street.
A blue tent remained on at the scene on Water Street and an ambulance was surrounded by a white tent, with a smaller tent in the middle