Liverpool parade car crash – what we know so far
It was meant to be a day of celebration, but now 47 people, including children, are injured—two of them in serious condition—after a car rammed into a group of fans who had gathered to celebrate Liverpool Football Club winning the Premier League.

Oh no. What happened? It occurred around 6:00 p.m. when the vehicle tried to drive down a packed Water Street in the city center. After facing resistance from the crowd, the car suddenly sped up and veered into horrified fans.

“From left to right, the road was packed. We were like sardines walking up the road when the car drove through. People couldn’t get out of the way in time. So, sooner than we knew, it just went straight through. A couple of people were even run over as the car reversed, continuing down the road. The car was lifting up because of the people underneath it.”

Police confirmed that a 53-year-old, believed to be the driver, had been arrested at the scene. He is a white British man from the Liverpool area. Authorities have stressed the importance of avoiding the spread of rumors, particularly following previous mass casualty events in the area, which have led to conspiracy theories online and even riots.

“It is vital that people do not speculate or spread misinformation on social media. I know that people will understandably be concerned by what has happened tonight. What I can tell you is that we believe this to be an isolated incident, and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it. The incident is not being treated as terrorism.”

Speaking at the scene this morning, the Metro Mayor for Liverpool City said that the decision to release details about the suspect’s ethnicity was necessary to calm an already tense situation. “What it was about was trying to dampen down the fears created through social media platforms by some groups with nefarious reasons. There were still hundreds of thousands of people in the city center, and the police, quite rightly, were trying to give reassurance messages.”

“I think there’s a tangible disappointment from some of those groups that this was a white male from the Liverpool area, rather than someone else they could use to spread hate and fear.”

The Prime Minister thanked first responders, stating that the entire country stands with Liverpool. “What began as scenes of joy turned to utter horror and devastation. My thoughts, and the thoughts of the whole country, are with all those affected—the injured, which of course includes children, their families, their friends, the whole community, and Liverpool fans everywhere.”

As police continue their investigation into the incident, there are questions about how the car managed to drive down a street full of people in the first place.

Joining us now is Emily Sparrow, the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner. “Thank you so much for joining us. What’s the latest you can tell us about the investigation?”

“Firstly, if I could just put on record that my thoughts are obviously with the individuals affected by yesterday’s incident. The police have confirmed that they arrested a 53-year-old male from Liverpool, and the investigation is ongoing. They are appealing to the public for anyone who saw what happened to share that information with Merseyside Police to help piece things together.”

“Do you think more information will be released later today about the investigation?”

“I know the police are very keen to confirm details as soon as possible. We want to make sure the public has the right information and knows exactly what is going on. Of course, they need to ensure accuracy, and they are working through the evidence, including CCTV footage and interviews with the individual in custody.”

“What can you tell us about those still in the hospital? We know four children were injured. How are they?”

“We’ve heard from the ambulance service that 27 people were transported to hospital, two of whom were seriously injured, including one child. We’re getting positive feedback on the nature of the injuries. Obviously, we’re ensuring that the proper support is in place for those affected, and we are giving the families privacy during this time as they receive the care they need.”

“Police have named the ethnicity and nationality of the person believed to be the driver. Is this something the police should continue doing?”

“The police always aim to provide the public with as much information as possible as soon as it’s appropriate. It’s important that the public has access to the details, especially when misinformation is spreading online. In this case, it was crucial to release the details quickly to counteract the false narratives that were circulating.”

“Did you see a lot of misinformation online after the event?”

“Yes, I received numerous reports of misinformation—lots of false narratives about what happened, suggesting one scenario versus another. That’s why it was so important for the police to release the facts to clarify the situation.”

“Do you think this will set a precedent for releasing details quickly?”

“I don’t think it’s unusual for the police to release details. They always aim to provide information that is accurate and timely. They have to balance transparency with safeguarding the criminal justice process, as it’s important that someone who’s committed a crime faces justice.”

“There’s been criticism of how a car managed to enter a road full of Liverpool fans celebrating their team’s victory. Can you shed any light on why that happened?”

“This is absolutely one of the questions that’s being asked. The police, the council, and other partners are working together to understand what went wrong and why the car was allowed into that area. They’re talking to people on the ground and reviewing what happened. We need to understand what went wrong and ensure that we learn from this to prevent it in the future.”

“Are you concerned there weren’t proper restrictions in place?”

“I’m not in a position to say that at this point. Merseyside Police have managed thousands of events like this, working closely with Liverpool City Council. There was a lot of planning for this event, and many large events have been held without incident. Of course, we need to find out what went wrong this time and learn from it.”

“Finally, Emily, what’s your message to the children and people of Liverpool who are understandably shaken by these events?”

“The community is understandably shaken. It was supposed to be a brilliant day, a day of celebration for the team, and for it to end in such a tragedy is heartbreaking. But the way Liverpool has responded, the way the community has come together, is truly inspiring. I’ve already seen numerous offers of support, and that’s the shining message we want to send—one of unity and community, not the awful events that occurred.”

Emily Sparrow, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us.