A 53-year-old man has been taken into custody following an incident where a vehicle struck pedestrians during Liverpool’s English Premier League victory parade in the city center, resulting in several injuries.
Merseyside Police confirmed that the suspect is a white, British individual from the Liverpool area.
It has been reported that counter-terrorism officials are assisting the force in the investigation.
Eyewitness accounts described a people carrier “careening into crowds” as fans celebrated Liverpool’s triumph around 6 PM.
Officers encircled the vehicle while bystanders attempted to restrain the driver, who was ultimately apprehended by police.
Emergency services arrived promptly, transporting several injured individuals via ambulances.
A witness, 28-year-old Matthew O’Carroll from Runcorn, mentioned that the back window of the vehicle was shattered during the occurrence.
“We were walking up Water Street nearing the top when the vehicle sped past a parked police van,” he recounted.
“People managed to get out of the way as it honked its horn, but upon passing, many were understandably upset and began chasing after the car.”
“The back window was already broken.”
“I initially thought that it was just someone trying to escape and would slow down near a larger crowd.”
Man arrested after vehicle strikes pedestrians at Liverpool parade
Harry Rashid, 48, from Solihull, was at the parade with his wife and two young daughters when he witnessed the incident unfold.
“This grey people carrier came from the right and rammed into everyone near us.”
“It was incredibly fast. At first, we just heard the sound of people getting knocked off the car’s hood.”
Another witness, who was with friends, reported seeing a car “accelerating” towards pedestrians.
Mike Maddra noted that the “car veered left, mounted the pavement, and sped towards us and the buildings.”
“We managed to dodge it as it picked up speed.”
Mr. Maddra believed he witnessed two people getting hit, commenting that “it seemed intentional” and “it has ruined the day for many.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the events as “appalling,” while Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch remarked, “The images coming from Liverpool are deeply concerning.”
The scenes in Liverpool are appalling — my thoughts are with all those injured or affected.
I want to express my gratitude to the police and emergency services for their quick and ongoing response to this distressing incident.
I’m staying updated on the situation and urge everyone to allow the police to…
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 26, 2025
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police stated: “We urge the public not to speculate about the events surrounding tonight’s incident on Water Street in Liverpool city center.”
“We can confirm that the man arrested is a 53-year-old white British individual from the Liverpool area.”
“Thorough investigations are underway to determine the circumstances leading up to the collision.”
“We request that people refrain from sharing distressing content online and instead provide footage or information directly to us.”
Liverpool Football Club organized an open-top bus parade to celebrate its Premier League success, with fans lining the 16-kilometer route.
City Councillor John Hughes estimated over one million attendees, exceeding the 750,000 present during the 2019 Champions League parade.
Liverpool FC stated that it is in communication with police and will “fully support the emergency services and local authorities managing this situation.”
A representative from the English Premier League expressed: “Everyone at the Premier League is shocked by the dreadful events in Liverpool this evening, and our heartfelt thoughts are with all those injured and impacted.”
“We have reached out to Liverpool FC to offer our full support following this serious incident.”
We are in direct communication with Merseyside Police concerning the event on Water Street, which occurred towards the end of the trophy parade earlier tonight.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this serious incident.
We will continue to offer… pic.twitter.com/xreiSqiEnL
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 26, 2025
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris expressed: “Our thoughts are with the people of Liverpool this evening.”
This was meant to be a night of celebration for the city and its fans.
Instead, we are witnessing some heartbreakingly tragic scenes unfold.
My team in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is keeping me updated on the latest developments.
