Dozens injured after car plows into crowd celebrating Liverpool soccer triumph. Police arrest man, rule out terrorism

A celebration in Liverpool turned tragic on Monday evening when a vehicle rammed into a crowd during a parade for Liverpool Football Club’s Premier League title win.

Police arrested a 53-year-old white British man at the scene. Authorities say they are not treating the event as terrorism and consider it an “isolated incident.”

The collision took place near the Liver Building on Water Street. Videos shared online show a gray minivan speeding through a sea of red-clad fans. The crowd quickly surrounded the stopped vehicle, rocking it back and forth before it drove off.

The North West Ambulance Service said 27 people were taken to local hospitals. Two—one child and one adult—suffered serious injuries. Twenty others received treatment on-site for minor wounds.

Chief Fire Officer Nick Searle said responders pulled four people—three adults and one child—from under the car. He confirmed the incident prompted a major emergency response.

Fan Harry Rashid told UK’s PA Media that the van appeared suddenly. “This gray people carrier just rammed into all the people at the side of us,” he said. “It was extremely fast. We heard pop, pop, pop as people were hit.”

Rashid, who was at the parade with his wife and daughters, described chaos. “I saw people lying on the ground, unconscious. It was horrendous.”

Another bystander, Matthew O’Carroll, said he saw the car approach Water Street at a “decent speed” while beeping through the crowd. “It drove right past a police van,” he said.

Footage from Reuters showed medics carrying people away on stretchers. Police cordoned off the area, and a tent was set up near the crash site. Debris covered the street by Tuesday morning.

“We heard a frantic beeping ahead,” parade-goer Peter Jones told the Associated Press. “People were chasing the car and trying to stop it. The windows were smashed, and he still drove into people.”

Merseyside Police said it received a call at 6:02 p.m. local time reporting a vehicle had hit pedestrians in the city center. The department had worked with parade organizers to plan a “robust traffic management” setup for the day.

Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims urged the public not to speculate. “Extensive enquiries are ongoing,” she said. “It’s vital people do not spread misinformation on social media.”

The parade coincided with a public holiday. Hundreds of thousands of fans flooded the streets to celebrate Liverpool FC’s 20th top-flight league title. Players toured the city on a 10-mile open-top bus route as fans waved flags and let off red smoke flares.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident “appalling” and thanked emergency crews. “My thoughts are with all those injured or affected,” he said.

Liverpool city council leader Liam Robinson also commented. “This has cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day,” he said during a news conference. He asked people not to share graphic footage online.

Liverpool FC responded with a statement on X, formerly Twitter. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected,” it read. “We will continue to support emergency services and local authorities.”

Everton FC, the city’s rival team, and the Premier League also posted messages of support.

The NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group asked the public not to call hospital switchboards. “Next of kin will be contacted directly,” the statement read. “Please help us manage this incident as best we can.”

By Tuesday, the crash scene was cleared. Police tape had cordoned off the area overnight as officials investigated. The investigation remains active.