UK: Car Hits Pedestrians At Liverpool FC Parade

May 26, 2025

From BBC News

Summary

Merseyside Police are due to provide an update to the media after a car drove into pedestrians in Water Street, Liverpool – watch live above
A 53-year-old white British man has been arrested, police say, but they did not specify if he was the suspected driver
“I grabbed my daughter and dived out of the way,” says our reporter who was at the scene when people began screaming
Thousands of people were on the city’s streets for Liverpool FC’s Premier League victory parade – the club has offered its full support to the emergency service
It is not yet clear how many people have been injured, or to what extent – here’s everything we know so far
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the “scenes in Liverpool are appalling” and thanks emergency services for their swift response

Just after 18:00 BST Merseyside Police said officers and emergency services were called to Water Street following reports that a car had “collided with a number of pedestrians”.A 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area was detained at the scene, the force said in an updated statement two hours ago as it also urged people to avoid speculating.Emergency services have not yet released details of the extent of any injuries suffered or whether there have been any fatalities.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is being kept updated on the latest developments and said in a statement that what has happened in Liverpool is “appalling”.This all happened moments after hundreds of thousands of fans had been celebrating on the nearby Strand as Liverpool FC took part in a 10-mile open top bus parade around the city. The club says its “thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident”.Share
Watch: ‘The mood changed instantly’ on Water Streetpublished at 16:1616:16BBC Sport’s Olly Foster is in Liverpool and describes how “the mood changed instantly” after a car rammed into pedestrians00:35Share’A very dark shadow’ over ‘a joyous day’ – Liverpool City Councilpublished at 16:0616:06Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson has released a statement following the incident on Water Street earlier today.He says: “Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this appalling incident in the city centre. It has cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day. “We are working closely with Merseyside Police to support their investigation, and with other relevant organisations to make sure whose affected get the appropriate support.”The council adds that their thoughts are with all of those affected.ShareLiverpool hospital group urges public not to call them. The NHS University Hospitals Liverpool Group is urging members of the public to refrain from calling to ask about loved ones after the Liverpool victory parade incident, saying next of kin will be contacted.In a statement the trust says: “Following the incident in Liverpool city centre this evening, we know that many people are concerned about loved ones. “Next of kin will be contacted, so please help us to manage the incident as best we can by refraining from calling our switchboard.” Car ‘suddenly accelerated forwards,’ says BBC reporter. Dan Ogunshakin, an off -duty BBC reporter, was in Liverpool for the parade and witnessed part of the incident.Describing what he saw, he says: “The mood was one of celebration, of happiness, of joy and then all of a sudden we noticed an ambulance was moving down the crowd and I said to my friend, ‘I wonder if someone had fallen ill’, as obviously the ambulance is attending to someone.”He says he saw a grey car in front of the ambulance and “suddenly a lot of people started to surround it”. “Then what we noticed was people were hitting the car and shaking the car and we wondered why this was suddenly happening
.”He says the car then reversed and knocked people away from it, and then “it suddenly accelerated forwards” straight towards the crowd of people.”What had once been an atmosphere of celebration and joy and happiness suddenly turned into fear and terror and disbelief,” he says.ShareIt is getting darker and darker – Water Street is very quiet right nowIMAGE SOURCE, AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
It is getting darker and darker by the minute on Water Street.There were two fire engines which have both now left. Still in place are one police matrix van and a police car which have parked diagonally across each other at the bottom of Water Street.A bit further down there’s a large blue and white inflatable tent. To give you an idea of the size, the sides of the tent go to the edges of the pavements and the height was above the fire engines.I can see another smaller tent behind that big tent and there is at least one ambulance at the top of Water Street. It is a very quiet street right now, which is completely opposite to what it was at 17:30 when the parade was taking place. News conference will take place later tonight, says ambulance service We have just had an updated statement from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) which says crews have “cleared the scene following the incident in Liverpool”.It adds that there will be an update on “casualty numbers” at a news conference which will be “scheduled for later tonight”.”Details of this will be announced shortly,” NWAS adds.We will bring you that news conference when it happens. It’s expected to take place at about 22:30
Air ambulance crews working closely with emergency servicespublished at 15:2315:23We can now bring you a statement from North West Ambulance Service which has described what has happened in Liverpool city centre as a “major incident”. The statement says: “Earlier this evening, we received a call to attend an incident in Liverpool.”Our crew is working closely with the other agencies involved, including the Police and North West Ambulance Service. “Our priority is the well-being of those involved and our thoughts are with those affected by the incident.” Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell says footage of the incident in Liverpool is “appalling” and urges people not to speculate.”The footage from tonight’s parade is shocking and appalling. My thoughts are with all those affected,” she says in a statement.”A 53-year-old white British male from the Liverpool area has now been arrested. My thanks go to Merseyside Police and our emergency service partners who have responded so swiftly,” Spurrell continues.”Updates will be provided as soon as possible. In the meantime, I’d urge people to please not speculate any further,” the statement adds. The police are expected to give a news conference at about 22:30 – you’ll be able to watch and follow live on this page.Share’A car flew past me and my mate’ – eyewitness has described the “frantic” moment a car ploughed into the crowds in Liverpool. Peter Jones, 44, from the Isle of Man, attended the Premier League trophy parade and described the incident as “shocking”.He says: “We were walking up Water Street, thousands around us.“We heard a frantic beeping ahead, a car flew past me and my mate, people were chasing it and trying to stop him, windows smashed at the back.“He then drove into people, police and medics ran past us, and people were being treated on the side of the road.“There were a lot injured. We heard it behind us hit the crowds, then we saw half a dozen people [injured] in the road as we were walking up.”“It was shocking. We’re back at our hotel now, in a bit of a shock.”Share’We have no reason as to why this incident took place’ – local MP tells BBCpublished at 15:0215:02Local Liverpool politicians have been sharing their reaction to what has happened this evening. Kim Johnson, MP for Liverpool Riverside, has just been speaking on the phone to BBC Radio Merseyside and says she is “very shocked this incident has taken place”.”If anyone does have any information – share it with police immediately,” she adds.”We have no reason as to why this incident took place because the police are still undertaking their inquires. Earlier,Justin Madders, the Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough, which lies just across the River Mersey, wrote: “This is appalling – a victory parade turned into such awful scenes – I hope everyone who needs it gets swift treatment and the police and emergency services are able to get on with their jobs.”The Mayor of the Liverpool City Region has also issued a statement. Steve Rotheram says: “Our hearts go out to all of those affected, especially those who have been injured.”Thank you, as ever, to the first responders for their professionalism and swift action. This is a difficult day for our city region, but we stand together.”Share’Truly shocking’, says Home Secretary Yvette Cooperpublished at 14:5814:58Home Secretary Yvette Cooper describes the scenes in Liverpool as “truly shocking”. She says: “Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response to the truly shocking and horrendous scenes in Liverpool this evening. “Thinking of all those affected at this very difficult time. The police are investigating and I’m being kept updated on developments.”SharePictured: Liverpool streets filled with emergency servicespublished at 14:5514:55These are the latest photos we are seeing from the scene in Liverpool, where emergency services are at work. IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERSIMAGE SOURCE, PA MEDIAIMAGE SOURCE, REUTERSShareEverything we know so far: Man detained as Liverpool and PM release statementspublished at 14:4914:49IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERSIt’s coming up to three hours since emergency services were called to Water Street.
Let’s quickly recap everything we know so far:
- A car collided with a number of pedestrians on Water Street just after 18:00, according to Merseyside PoliceThe force says a 53-year-old man from the Liverpool area has since been arrested, but it is unclear if he is thought to be the driver of the vehicle involved in the incidentMerseyside Police has not yet released details of the extent of any injuries suffered or whether there have been any fatalitiesA number of tents have been set up inside the police cordon along Water Street and the surrounding areaWater Street is near the Strand, where moments before the incident occurred Liverpool FC paraded the Premier League trophyLiverpool FC has released a statement saying its “thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident”Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is being kept updated on the latest developments and said in a statement that what has happened in Liverpool as “appalling”