Liverpool parade collision: What we know so far
Police are not treating an incident in which a car ploughed through crowds of people near Liverpool FC’s trophy parade as terrorism, a senior officer has said.
Thousands of fans were lining the streets to celebrate the club winning the Premier League title at the time.
At least 27 people, including four children, were taken to hospital on Monday evening but no deaths have been reported so far.
Follow live: Man arrested after pedestrians hit during Liverpool parade
Following a press conference by the emergency services on Monday night, here’s what we know so far.
What happened?
The incident occurred on Water Street in the city centre – near Liverpool Town Hall and the Liver Building – when a car drove through a crowd of pedestrians.
Witnesses described a people carrier driving into a crowd who had been out celebrating in their tens of thousands on Monday.
A 53-year-old white British man, who is believed to be the driver, was arrested at the scene.
Footage filmed from a nearby building showed the incident unfold.
Pic: AP
What are the emergency services saying?
At a press conference, deputy chief constable of Merseyside Police, Jenny Sims, said the force received reports at 6pm that a car had hit a number of pedestrians.
“A number of people have been injured and were taken to hospital. In addition, a large number of people of all ages were treated at the scene that did not require hospital treatment.”
Ms Sims described the collision, which unfolded as the parade was winding down, as a “terrible tragedy” – with detectives immediately declaring a major incident.
DCC Simms said police believe it was an isolated incident and is not being treated as terror-related, without providing any detail about why it may have happened.
Giving updates on the injured, Dave Kitchin, head of service at the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said 27 people were taken to hospital by ambulance.
Two of those, including one child, sustained serious injuries, he said.
Mr Kitchin added that 20 patients were treated at the scene for minor injuries and did not need hospital treatment.
Pic: PA
What has the response been so far?
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was being updated on the situation and thanked police for their swift action.
“The scenes in Liverpool are appalling – my thoughts are with all those injured or affected,” he said.
Liverpool Football Club said it was in contact with the force and would “continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident”.
Liverpool’s city rivals Everton FC said in a statement on social media: “Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by this serious incident in our city.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked police and called the incident “truly shocking and horrendous”.
“Thinking of all those affected at this very difficult time. The police are investigating and I’m being kept updated on developments.”
A 53-year-old man has been charged after a car was driven into a crowd at Liverpool FC’s trophy parade.
Paul Doyle, from the West Derby area of Liverpool, has been charged with seven offences, Merseyside Police said.
The businessman, who is a father-of-three, is accused of two counts of unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and two counts of causing unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Paul Doyle
Doyle is also accused of two counts of attempted unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and one count of dangerous driving.
He is due to appear before Liverpool Magistrates Court on Friday.
The charges relate to six people, including two children. A wounding charge and an attempted grievous bodily harm charge relate to a child.
A police car was outside Doyle’s four-bedroom detached family home in the West Derby area on Thursday morning.
According to his social media, he has travelled extensively including Japan, Fiji, India and Australia. Doyle has posted pictures of himself competing in triathlons, and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
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New Liverpool incident footage
Thousands of fans were gathered in Liverpool city centre on Monday to celebrate the Premier League champions’ title win when a car struck a crowd on Water Street.
Police said a total of 79 people were injured in the incident, with the youngest aged nine, and the oldest being a 78-year-old.
Seven people remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Forensic officers at the scene in Water Street. Pic: PA
‘Huge volume of evidence’
Chief crown prosecutor for the CPS Mersey-Cheshire, Sarah Hammond, told a news conference on Thursday that the investigation was at an early stage and a “huge volume of evidence” was being reviewed.
“This includes multiple pieces of video footage and numerous witness statements. It is important to ensure that every victim gets the justice they deserve.
“The charges will be kept under review as the investigation progresses.”
Police ‘working tirelessly’
Also at the briefing where the charges were announced was Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Jenny Sims, who said: “I fully understand how this incident has left us all shocked and saddened, and I know many will continue to have concerns and questions.
“Our detectives are working tirelessly, with diligence and professionalism, to seek the answer to all of those questions. When we are able to, we will provide further information.”
The youngest victim injured in the Liverpool parade crash on Monday is nine years old, police have said.
They added that the oldest is 78, with all 79 people injured understood to be British. Seven remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Merseyside Police declined to say what drug the 53-year-old man arrested over the incident is alleged to have taken.
“We wouldn’t go into this detail at this stage of the investigation,” the force said.
Police at the scene in Liverpool. Pic: AP
Forensic officers in Water Street. Pic: PA
Police are still questioning the driver and were granted further time to do so on Wednesday.
Officers have until Thursday evening to question the man from West Derby.
He is in custody on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and drug driving.
Police believe the car which struck pedestrians was able to follow an ambulance crew attending to someone suffering a heart attack after a road block was temporarily lifted.
Hundreds of thousands of Liverpool fans had turned out to celebrate their team’s Premier League title when the incident unfolded on Water Street just after 6pm on Monday.
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‘My boy in his pram, got bounced’
‘The best day of my life turned into worst’
Sky News interviewed a lifelong Liverpool fan who said his five-month-old son was “bounced” 15ft (4.6m) in his pram after they were hit by the vehicle.
The child was not counted in the police’s injury tally.
Daniel Eveson, 36, also said his partner had been driven over.
“The best day of my life turned into [the] worst,” Mr Eveson said.
He added: “Me and my partner were flat on the roof, on the bonnet… we were just both trying to hold on for dear life with Ted next to us.
“And my partner went under the wheels of the car, of the front of the car, and it rolled over her leg, and I just bounced off to the side, but my boy and his pram got bounced totally in the opposite direction – about 15ft down the road.”
Read more:
How the parade crash unfolded
Police given more time to question Liverpool suspect
Why police released ‘unprecedented’ details
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Liverpool to meet with police chiefs and the local metro mayor.
He said he was being kept informed of developments, adding: “The scenes on Monday were just awful, to see how incredible joy at an amazing achievement turned to horror in a moment.”
Messages of support have been sent to the people of Liverpool, including from the King who said: “I know that the strength of community spirit for which your city is renowned will be a comfort and support to those in need.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales said they were “deeply saddened” by the incident.
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