The driver of a car that crashed into pedestrians at the Liverpool FC title parade may have been trying to follow an ambulance through the crowd before hitting and injuring dozens of people, it's been claimed.
A 53 year old white, British man was arrested following the distressing scenes on Water Street on Monday evening (May 26) where a car drove into crowds who had gathered in the city centre to celebrate Liverpool's Premier League victory parade. A total of 47 people were injured when the vehicle struck the crowd, with 20 - including two children - rushed to hospital for treatment.
In an update issued this morning (May 27), Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram stated that four individuals remain "very, very ill" in hospital. Merseyside Police are conducting thorough investigations to determine the circumstances leading up to the incident, with questions being raised about how the car managed to enter a key city centre road that had been closed to traffic due to the parade.
The ECHO understands that one line of enquiry is that the car was following or attempting to follow an ambulance that was moving through the crowd. This may have have led to some of the gathered crowd attempting to stop the vehicle before it then lurched forward and ploughed into the crowds, injuring many people.
Police tents surrounded by debris at the scene
Police tents surrounded by debris at the scene
The publication understands from numerous sources that one theory being explored by the police is that the driver of the car tailgated an ambulance to enter Water Street. While the incident's details are emerging, LancsLive has chosen not to publish distressing videos showing what transpired.
During a press briefing on Monday evening, Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police Jenny Sims said: "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.
"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 currently being treated as terrorism."
One person who witnessed the horrific aftermath of the incident was Dumisani Moyo, who had travelled up from London to watch the parade and was staying with friends and family at an Air BnB in Water Street, just yards from where the grim scenes unfolded.
The scene from Water Street, Liverpool
The scene from Water Street, Liverpool
He told the ECHO: "We got back here just after it had happened. We weren't able to go back into our accommodation.
"It was mayhem, it had just happened. People were trying to get to the driver and the police were trying to create their cordon to stop people getting onto the scene."
"It was really horrific stuff. The car was still there, we could see it. People were lying hurt on the floor.
"It had been a beautiful day, the people of Liverpool are great, we had a wonderful time and then that happened. We couldn't get into our accommodation until about 11pm. But we are ok, we are safe and we pray for the people who got hurt. We wish them the best."
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