LIVERPOOL, England, May 26 (Reuters) – A car drove into a crowd of Liverpool fans during a parade celebrating the team’s Premier League title on Monday, injuring 27 people, including two seriously, authorities said.
Police stated that the incident does not appear to be terrorism-related.
A 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area has been arrested on suspicion of being the driver. The vehicle struck a large group of supporters gathered in the city in northwest England to mark the club’s title win
Twenty people received treatment at the scene, while 27 were taken to hospital, including four children, according to ambulance officials. One child and one adult are reported to be in serious condition. Firefighters had to free four individuals who were trapped beneath the vehicle.
Footage shared on social media showed the car striking spectators, with some people thrown into the air by the impact.
After the car came to a stop, a group of angry fans surrounded it and began smashing its windows. Police officers quickly intervened to prevent them from reaching the driver.
“This appears to be an isolated incident, and we are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with it. The incident is not being treated as terrorism,” said Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Jenny Sims.
With the Spring Bank Holiday giving many people the day off, hundreds of thousands of fans lined the streets to watch the Liverpool team and staff parade through the city centre on an open-top bus carrying the Premier League trophy.
According to the BBC, an eyewitness reported that the collision occurred roughly 10 minutes after the team bus had passed the area.
“What had been a joyous day was overshadowed by this tragic incident,” Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson said on social media.
In the aftermath of the incident, a Reuters photographer witnessed emergency crews transporting victims on stretchers to waiting ambulances, with debris littering the roadway.
Police were notably swift in releasing a description of the arrested suspect. Dal Babu, a former chief superintendent with London’s Metropolitan Police, told the BBC that this move was likely intended to curb social media speculation suggesting the incident was an Islamist attack.
The same police force handled the response to the murder of three young girls in nearby Southport last year—an event that triggered several days of rioting, driven by online speculation about the identity of the attacker.
An eyewitness to Monday’s incident, identified only as Chelsea, told BBC Radio that the tightly packed crowd was only alerted to the oncoming vehicle by screams from bystanders. “With the commotion, that was the only reason we looked up—and thankfully, we looked up in time and managed to jump out of the way,” she said, noting the driver gave no indication of slowing down.
Liverpool last won the Premier League title during the COVID-19 pandemic, when public celebrations were not allowed due to lockdown restrictions.
Before the incident, a Reuters reporter observed disorder in the city centre, where the parade route was located. Overcrowding and confusion among spectators were compounded by a lack of signage about street closures and crowd management.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the incident on X, calling the scenes “appalling” and expressing sympathy for those affected. “My thoughts are with all those injured or affected,” he wrote, adding that he was receiving regular updates.
Liverpool FC also posted a message on X, saying the club was in direct contact with police. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident,” the statement read.
Reporting by Phil Noble, Sam Tobin and Muvija M; Writing by Kate Holton; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Christian Radnedge, Cynthia Osterman, Leslie Adler, Michael Perry and Lincoln Feast
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