14 hours ago
Man, 53, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and dangerous driving offences
Detective Ch Supt Karen Jaundrill is updating on the investigation and says police have arrested a 53-year-old man from the West Derby area of Liverpool.
She says he has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving offences and driving while unfit through drugs. He remains in custody where he is being interviewed.
There were 65 casualties, she says, with specialist officers providing support to the victims of the incident.
Extensive CCTV inquiries are being carried out to establish the movements of the Ford Galaxy car, she says.
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Matthew Weaver
There were no official celebrations when Liverpool last won the Premier League. It was 2020 and the country was in the middle of a Covid lockdown. This time the streets were packed with up to a million fans eager to witness the club’s first victory parade in 35 years as it looped round the city on Bank Holiday Monday.
Triumphant Liverpool players began the slow open-top bus journey at around 2.30pm on Queen’s Drive, south-east of the city centre. It was due to finish at around 7.30pm at Blundell Street near the Royal Albert docks. But the celebrations were brutally curtailed. This time not by a global pandemic but a lone driver in a people carrier.
Here is a visual guide to how the Liverpool parade collision unfolded …
Earlier, Metro mayor of the Liverpool city region Steve Rotheram said the “big question” was how the car had managed to access the street.
He said: “Water Street was not a route where vehicles were supposed to be using it, it was blocked off.
“At this end of it, which is the direction that it was coming in, towards The Strand, there were literally hundreds of thousands of people here, so no vehicle would have got through anyway.
“And the questions, I suppose, are legitimate, but we have to give the police the time to conclude their investigations, which is what they’re doing.”
Home secretary to visit Liverpool incident site on Tuesday evening
Home secretary Yvette Cooper will visit Liverpool on Tuesday evening after dozens of people were injured at the Premier League victory parade on Monday.
Cooper is expected to visit the cordon of the incident and meet with emergency personnel.
Man, 53, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and dangerous driving offences
Detective Ch Supt Karen Jaundrill is updating on the investigation and says police have arrested a 53-year-old man from the West Derby area of Liverpool.
She says he has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving offences and driving while unfit through drugs. He remains in custody where he is being interviewed.
There were 65 casualties, she says, with specialist officers providing support to the victims of the incident.
Extensive CCTV inquiries are being carried out to establish the movements of the Ford Galaxy car, she says.
Driver of Ford Galaxy followed ambulance to access Water Street, say police
Assistant chief constable Jenny Sims begins by thanking witnesses who come forward with information and saying that, prior to incident, hundreds of thousands lined streets to pay tribute to Liverpool FC.
She says more than 50 people were injured and treated at hospital – 11 remain and are stable and recovering well – and that Merseyside police had “worked extensively” to build a robust traffic management plan, including road closures on the route and city centre.
Water Street was closed to traffic, she says, and confirms that it is now believed that the driver of a Ford Galaxy was able to follow ambulance after a road block temporarily lifted so that the ambulance crew could attend to a member of the public suspected of having a heart attack.
“There was no intelligence to suggest an event such as this would take place,” she says and adds that the incident is not being treated as terrorism.
The investigation is ongoing and police are asking people not to speculate and to refrain from sharing distressing content online.
Merseyside police are about to begin a press conference to give further updates on the Liverpool victory parade collision.
We will bring you full coverage of any news lines once it gets under way, which could be imminently.
Liverpool fans have received an outpouring of support from current and former stars of the club, as well as celebrity supporters, after a car ploughed into a crowd in the city on Monday.
On Tuesday, club captain Virgil van Dijk said he was “praying for a speedy recovery” for all those injured in the crash following the title parade.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who attended the parade, said he was “shocked and devastated”. He added: “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are injured and affected. You’ll never walk alone.”
And Liverpool-born club academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold said: “My thoughts are with the whole city, especially all affected by yesterday’s devastating events.
“Hopefully those who were injured will make a full recovery and the city will pull together as it always does.”
Club legend Sir Kenny Dalglish said he was “shocked, horrified and deeply saddened” before adding “your Liverpool family are behind you”.
Ex-striker Robbie Fowler called the news “heartbreaking” and said he was “absolutely sickened with what’s happened here”.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher posted on X: “Devastating end to the day, just pray everyone is ok”.
The King has released a statement, adding to the chorus of well-wishers responding to last night’s events.
The King said: “My wife and I were deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the terrible events that took place in Liverpool on Monday.
“It is truly devastating to see that what should have been a joyous celebration for many could end in such distressing circumstances.
“At this heartbreaking time for the people of Liverpool, I know that the strength of community spirit for which your city is renowned will be a comfort and support to those in need.
“Our prayers and deepest sympathy are with all those who have been affected, and my special gratitude goes out to the first responders, emergency services personnel and other individuals who rushed to the aid of the injured.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales said they were “deeply saddened” by the scenes that marred Liverpool’s victory parade on Monday.
William, who is patron of the Football Association, and his wife Kate said in a personal message on social media: “We are deeply saddened by the scenes in Liverpool yesterday. What should have been a joyful celebration ended with tragedy.
“Our thoughts are with those who were injured and to the first responders and emergency services on the ground. W & C.”
Police probe whether car tailgated ambulance before running into crowd
Detectives are probing whether the car which ploughed into a crowd during Liverpool’s victory parade tailgated an ambulance before running down pedestrians, PA reports.
It is understood Merseyside Police are investigating whether the driver attempted to follow an ambulance that was moving through the crowd.
The city’s metro mayor Steve Rotheram said the vehicle should not have been on the street and the “big question” was how the incident happened.
Speaking to reporters at the scene, Rotheram said questions about how the car was able to enter the road were “legitimate”.
He said: “Water Street was not a route where vehicles were supposed to be using it, it was blocked off.
“At this end of it, which is the direction that it was coming in, towards The Strand, there were literally hundreds of thousands of people here, so no vehicle would have got through anyway.
“The questions, I suppose, are legitimate, but we have to give the police the time to conclude their investigations, which is what they’re doing.”
Medical staff who treated those injured when a car drove into crowds at the Liverpool victory parade have told Princess Anne they were “very, very fortunate” there were not more major injuries, PA reports.
Anne visited the Royal Liverpool University Hospital where she met nurses, consultants and paramedics, as well as representatives from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and the football club, after 47 people were injured on Water Street after a car ploughed into crowds celebrating Liverpool’s Premie League title win.
Divisional medical director for surgery at Aintree University Hospital Marc Lucky told Anne the injuries were not “major traumas”.
He said: “We were very, very fortunate yesterday, I must say.”
And consultant Jay Rathore said: “Most of the injuries were limb injuries. No life-threatening, we were able to manage them.”
Steven Morris
Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England, has said the thoughts of people across the region were with Liverpool.
She said: “The thoughts of people across the West of England will be with all those affected by the awful events yesterday evening in Liverpool, after a day of joy became one of heartbreak.
“We are all praying for a swift recovery for everyone who was injured, and sending our love and support.
“Liverpool will always remain close to my heart. It’s where I went to university, the first place outside the West that I called home. Our kids are reds. As a region, the West of England stands with Liverpool and with Merseyside.”
Speaking from the scene, Steve Rotheram, the mayor of the Liverpool city region, spoke of the “true humanity” of the city and said he hoped that those injured would recover quickly.
Rotheram said: ‘Liverpool’s a city where there’s such warmth, and we’re a welcoming city ... The solidarity of the people will shine through’.
Some other Liverpool players have reacted on social media to last night’s events.
Defender Joe Gomez posted on instagram: “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected right now.” He signed the post off “YNWA” – the initials of the club’s you’ll never walk alone motto.
Midfielder Curtis Jones, who is from Liverpool, re-posted the club’s statement on the incident with a heart and prayer hands emoji.
Club legend Steven Gerrard posted: “Shocked, sickened and saddened at the incident we all witnessed in our city last night. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the people involved and their families.”
Liverpool FC captain Virgil van Dijk said he was “praying for a speedy recovery” for all those injured in the crash following the club’s title parade.
The Dutch defender posted on Instagram: “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected. Praying for a speedy recovery for everyone who suffered injuries. We are all with you.”
A planned strike by Unite workers at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital was called off following yesterday’s incident in Liverpool city centre.
Over 50 lab workers were set to walk out today over concerns that staff burnout and understaffing was putting patients at risk, but the workers made the decision to suspend their industrial action following the incident last night.
Unite regional officer Derek Jones said: “Following yesterday’s tragic events in Liverpool, members took the immediate decision to suspend action so they could provide full support to the major incident which has been declared by the hospital trust.
“The dispute is not over and more action is planned - but we are urging Liverpool Clinical Laboratories to come back to the table and commit to addressing the problems with staffing and overwork.”
Everton, the other club Premier League team in Merseyside have released a statement: “Everyone at Everton Football Club is deeply saddened by the horrific incident on Water Street yesterday during Liverpool Football Club’s Premier League victory celebrations.
“As a city we stand together,” the statement ended.
League Two club Tranmere Rovers, based in Birkenhead, Merseyside said on X last night: “All of our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the incident in Liverpool city centre this evening.”
Figures from across the sporting world and beyond reacted to the incident and sent their thoughts to those affected.
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler posted on X: “Heartbreaking news … absolutely sickened with what’s happened here in Liverpool.”
Former Liverpool manager Sir Kenny Dalglish said he was “shocked, horrified and deeply saddened” by the incident at the end of the parade.
NBA star LeBron James, who owns a small stake in Liverpool FC, said on X: “My deepest thoughts and prayers goes out to everyone affected that attended @LFC Premier League trophy parade today! Such a senseless act!”
Oasis frontman and Manchester City fan Liam Gallagher said on the social media platform: “Thoughts and prayers with all our brothers and sisters of LIVERPOOL”
Police in white forensic suits arrived on Water Street and began taking photographs of the area.
They could be seen going into a white tent at the scene.
If you have been affected by the incident in Liverpool and want to share your experience with our journalists, here is how to get in touch.
