A car plowed into a crowd of football fans celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League title victory on Monday, leaving 27 people injured, two of them seriously. Police have ruled out terrorism in the incident, arresting a 53-year-old man in connection with the attack.
Merseyside Police confirmed that the driver, a white British man, is in custody but stated that there is no ongoing threat. Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims described the incident as isolated, adding that it was not being treated as a terrorist act.
The crash occurred minutes after Liverpool’s open-top bus, carrying players including Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, passed through Water Street, where thousands had gathered to celebrate the team’s title win. The vehicle, described as dark-colored, swerved through the crowd, striking individuals in its path at high speed.
Among the 27 people hospitalized, four were children, with one reported to have suffered serious injuries. At least 20 others were treated on-site. Witnesses described hearing “pops” as the car hit pedestrians, with some being knocked onto the bonnet, and others narrowly escaping as the vehicle sped away.
“We heard the bumps as the car went over the people,” said Harry Rashid, a witness who was at the parade with his family. “It was horrible.”
Police and emergency services acted swiftly, with fire crews removing four people trapped under the vehicle. Local authorities praised the “remarkable bravery” of first responders, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer offering his condolences to those affected.
Images shared on social media showed the car stopped and surrounded by angry fans, who smashed the windows as officers attempted to control the crowd.
The parade, which had been a sea of red with fans waving flags and lighting flares, turned into chaos after the crash. Liverpool’s mayor and the club expressed their solidarity with those injured. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident,” Liverpool FC said.
The incident occurred on a day meant to celebrate Liverpool’s 20th league title, a victory that came after a 30-year wait. Despite the joy of winning, the city’s football history has been marred by tragedy, including the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, where 97 fans lost their lives, and the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985, which claimed 39 lives.