A huge crowd had gathered in Liverpool city centre for a parade to celebrate the Reds' Premier League title win when a car ploughed into the crowd, injuring dozens of people.
Peter Davidson, Tim Hanlon News Reporter, Liam Thorp Liverpool Echo Political Editor and Hollie Bone News Reporter
12:33, 27 May 2025
Forensic officers at the scene in Water Street near the Liver Building in Liverpool
Forensic officers at the scene in Water Street near the Liver Building in Liverpool(Image: PA)
A motorist involved in a crash that saw a car career into a throng of people in Liverpool, resulting in numerous injuries, is believed to have been trying to tail an ambulance, according to reports.
Following the distressing incident on Water Street on Monday evening, where a vehicle barrelled into spectators who had congregated to celebrate Liverpool's Premier League triumph, a 53-year-old man was apprehended by the police. Officials have verified that at least 47 individuals were harmed by the vehicle as it struck the crowd, with 20 – including two children – requiring hospital care.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, has today disclosed that four individuals are still 'very, very ill' in hospital.
Merseyside Police are conducting thorough investigations to determine what led to the event, with one critical question being how the car managed to enter a major city centre road that was shut to vehicles due to the parade.
An ambulance at the scene in Water Street near the Liver Building in Liverpool
An ambulance at the scene in Water Street near the Liver Building in Liverpool(Image: PA)
The Liverpool Echo suggests that one avenue being explored is whether the car was following or attempting to follow an ambulance navigating through the masses. This might explain why some onlookers tried to halt the car before it suddenly surged forward and ploughed into the crowd, causing multiple injuries, reports the Mirror.
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A source confided to the Mail: "It looks as if he has panicked when he realised he was in the crowd and people began banging on his car. Instead of going back the way he came he's got angry and put his foot down, it's absolutely devastating."
There are multiple allegations circulating that the driver who gained access to Water Street may have tailgated an ambulance, and this is now a key theory under consideration by the police.
During a briefing on Monday evening, Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims shared details regarding the incident: "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."
She added: "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."
Dumisani Moyo, who had come up from London to see the parade and was staying nearby when tragedy struck, recounted the immediate chaos: "We got back here just after it had happened. We weren't able to go back into our accommodation," he explained. "It was mayhem, it had just happened.
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"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."