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What began as a jubilant celebration turned into a scene of panic on Monday evening, as a grey minivan crashed into crowds gathered for Liverpool Football Club’s Premier League victory parade. At least 27 people were injured, including four children.
The crash happened just after 6 p.m. near the Liver Building, in the heart of the city centre. Police quickly arrested a 53-year-old man at the scene. He is believed to be the driver. Officers have ruled out terrorism and say they are not looking for anyone else.
“This appears to be an isolated incident,” Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims of Merseyside Police said. “We urge the public not to spread rumours or share distressing footage online.”
A Day of Joy Turns to Horror
Earlier that day, Liverpool’s streets were filled with red smoke, singing fans, and waving flags. Thousands had turned out to see their team celebrate its 20th league title aboard an open-top bus.
But the mood shifted suddenly as the parade was wrapping up.
“The car came from the right and just rammed into the people beside us,” said Harry Rashid, who was at the parade with his wife and daughters. “It was extremely fast. We just heard this ‘pop, pop, pop’—people being knocked off the bonnet. It was awful.”
Footage shared online shows panicked fans surrounding the vehicle, some smashing its windows to stop it from moving. Emergency crews rushed in within minutes.
According to the North West Ambulance Service, two of the injured — an adult and a child — are in serious condition. Fire crews had to lift the car to rescue four people trapped beneath it.
“We treated 20 others at the scene for minor injuries,” said Chief Fire Officer Nick Searle.
Peter Jones, who travelled from Cheshire for the parade, described what he saw. “The car sped past us, people were chasing it, smashing windows. Then it just ploughed into the crowd. It was chaos. People on the ground, medics everywhere.”
Questions Raised Over Safety
Police say they had worked with organisers to prepare a traffic plan for the event. The route was clearly marked and roads were closed.
“We’ll be carrying out full investigations to understand what went wrong,” said Assistant Chief Constable Sims.
City officials echoed the call for patience.
“This incident has cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day,” said Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson. “Please don’t share the videos — they only add to the distress.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the events “appalling” and praised emergency services for their quick response.
Football Community Responds
Liverpool FC said it was “deeply saddened” and was working closely with police. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected,” the club posted on social media.
Everton FC, the city’s other major club, and the Premier League also shared messages of support.
Hospitals in the area have asked the public not to phone for updates on patients. “Next of kin will be contacted directly,” said NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool. “Please help us manage this situation.”
By late evening, authorities confirmed that the area had been cleared and was safe. But questions remain over how a day meant for celebration turned so quickly into a scene of horror.
Police are urging anyone who witnessed the crash or has video footage to come forward as investigations continue.
