On Monday evening, a tragic event occurred in Liverpool. A car drove into a crowd of soccer fans celebrating Liverpool Football Club’s Premier League title win. What was supposed to be a joyful parade quickly turned to chaos and panic. Dozens of people, including four children, were injured.
Arrest Made After Car Plows Into Parade Crowd
Merseyside Police confirmed the arrest of a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area. He is suspected of being involved in the incident. Authorities have urged the public not to speculate on the cause of the crash.
David Kitchin, head of service at North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust, shared that 27 people were taken to the hospital. Two of those hospitalized, one child and one adult, suffered serious injuries. 
Nick Searle, the Chief Fire Officer of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, reported that four people—three adults and one child—had to be rescued from under the car. Another 20 people were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Merseyside Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims assured the public that the incident was not being treated as terrorism. She added that the arrested man is believed to be the driver.
Incident Details: Parade Turns to Horror
The collision occurred shortly after 6 p.m. local time (1 p.m. ET). Police were alerted to a car hitting pedestrians in Liverpool’s city center. At the time, the city was filled with fans celebrating Liverpool’s 20th top-flight league title. They had gathered for an open-top bus parade.
Videos circulating on social media show the vehicle plowing into the crowd. One fan, Harry Rashid, described the terrifying moment: “This gray people carrier just pulled up from the right and rammed into all the people at the side of us. It was extremely fast. We just heard the pop, pop, pop of people being knocked off the bonnet.”
Rashid, who was with his wife and two young daughters, recalled how the crowd reacted. “It was horrible. You could hear the bumps as he was going over the people. I saw people lying on the ground. Some were unconscious. It was horrendous. So horrendous.”
Celebratory Parade Turns Into a Scene of Chaos
The parade coincided with a public holiday in the UK. Liverpool players were driven around the city center in an open-top bus. Hundreds of thousands of fans waved flags and red smoke flares along the 10-mile route (16 kilometers). The atmosphere, initially filled with joy, turned to panic when the incident occurred.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his shock. “The scenes in Liverpool are appalling,” he said. “My thoughts are with all those injured or affected.” He also thanked the police and emergency services for their quick response to the tragic event.
Emergency Response and Ongoing Investigation
Footage shared by Reuters showed emergency services attending to the injured. Some were carried into ambulances on stretchers. Photos from the scene also showed authorities cordoning off the area. Investigators were working at the crash site. A tent was set up where the collision occurred.
Liverpool Football Club issued a statement expressing their support for the victims. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident,” they said. “We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities.” The club confirmed that they are in contact with Merseyside Police regarding the investigation.
Rival club Everton FC and the Premier League also shared their condolences on social media, expressing their support for the victims and their families.
Situation Cleared, Authorities Appeal for Calm
In a later update, North West Ambulance Service confirmed that the scene had been cleared. Emergency responders had left the area. A local hospital group made a plea for people not to call their switchboard. “We know that many people are concerned about loved ones,” they said. “Next of kin will be contacted. Please help us manage the situation by refraining from calling our switchboard.”
This tragic event has left the Liverpool community in shock. What should have been a day of celebration has turned into a nightmare for many. The city is now coping with the aftermath of the horror.
