Police are considering that the driver of the car that careered into pedestrians during the Liverpool title parade may have been trying to tail an ambulance through the throng, leading to dozens of injuries.
A 53-year-old man was arrested following the distressing scenes on Water Street on Monday evening when a car ploughed into spectators who had congregated in the city centre to celebrate Liverpool's Premier League triumph.
It has been confirmed that at least 47 people were injured as the vehicle struck the crowd, with 27 - including two children - rushed to hospital for treatment. Today, Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region, stated that four individuals remain 'very, very ill' in hospital.
Merseyside Police are conducting thorough investigations to determine the events leading up to the incident, with queries being raised about how the car managed to enter a key city centre road that had been shut off to traffic due to the parade.
According to Liverpool ECHO sources, one line of investigation is that the car was trailing or attempting to trail an ambulance navigating through the crowd.
This could have prompted some of the assembled crowd to try and halt the vehicle before it then surged forward and rammed into the crowds, causing numerous injuries.
Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims, during a media briefing on Monday evening, shed light on the individual apprehended at the scene.
Police are investigating a new line of inquiry
Police are investigating a new line of inquiry (Image: PA)
She 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."
Sims further explained: "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, a witness who found himself amidst the chaos after travelling from London to see the parade and staying at an Airbnb on Water Street, recounted his experience.
He said: "We got back here just after it had happened. We weren't able to go back into our accommodation."
Emergency Services scene on Water Street after Liverpool FC Premier League Champions parade
Emergency Services at the scene near Water Street (Image: Liverpool Echo)
He described the disturbing scene: "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."
Moyo added the sombre details: "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."