Key events
Andy Hunter
Our Merseyside football correspondent, Andy Hunter, is on the scene.
He is reporting that emergency services are still on the scene on Water Street, with casualties being treated in the Riva restaurant nearby.
Josh Halliday
Outside the police cordon, Sonny Singh, 40, said he saw an injured teenager and dozens of people run past him “crying and angry” shortly after the collision.
“People were running, screaming … I saw a boy, probably about 15, holding his leg and bleeding. There were loads of people there,” he said, adding that he had heard the vehicle hit dozens of fans.
Singh, from Leicester, had been celebrating with his two sons, aged nine and 13, when the incident unfolded shortly after 6pm.
Local restaurants are reportedly opening their doors to treat those in medical need.
Paddy Edrich, a reporter at the Liverpool Post, said on X that people are being given medical attention inside a nearby Italian restaurant.
“People inside Riva are being treated by paramedics. Some have bandages around their heads and limbs. Staff in the restaurant appear to be providing fluids to those being treated and the emergency services.”
People inside Riva are being treated by paramedics. Some have bandages around their heads and limbs. Staff in the restaurant appear to be providing fluids to those being treated and the emergency services. @LivEchonews
— Paddy Edrich (@PaddyEdrichECHO) May 26, 2025
The Merseyside police and crime commissioner, Emily Spurrell, has urged people not to speculate about the incident.
She said: “The footage from tonight’s parade is shocking and appalling. My thoughts are with all those affected.
“A 53-year-old white British male from the Liverpool area has now been arrested.
“My thanks go to Merseyside police and our emergency service partners who have responded so swiftly.
“Updates will be provided as soon as possible. In the meantime, I’d urge people to please not speculate any further.”
Josh Halliday
One eyewitness said the vehicle reversed before “what seemed like an incredibly deliberate” acceleration into a crowd of people near the packed Water Street area of the city centre.
Footage appears to show the car hit a number of people before being surrounded by a crowd who apprehended the driver.
It is understood that St John Ambulance personnel were among the first at the scene to treat those injured, some of whom are believed to be in a critical condition. A reporter at the scene saw two “distressed” volunteer medics being comforted by colleagues as they made their way from the scene.
Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool city region, has thanked first responders for their “swift action” on a “difficult day”.
He said: “Our hearts go out to all of those affected, especially those who have been injured. Thank you, as ever, to the first responders for their professionalism and swift action.
“This is a difficult day for our city region, but we stand together.”
Home secretary calls incident ‘shocking and horrendous’
The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has called the incident “shocking and horrendous” as she thanked emergency services for their swift response.
In a post on X, she said: “Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response to the truly shocking and horrendous scenes in Liverpool this evening.
“Thinking of all those affected at this very difficult time. The police are investigating and I’m being kept updated on developments.”
Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response to the truly shocking and horrendous scenes in Liverpool this evening.
Thinking of all those affected at this very difficult time. The police are investigating and I’m being kept updated on developments
— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) May 26, 2025
Earlier this evening, the prime minister, Keir Starmer, said the scenes were “appalling”.
“I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident,” he said. “I’m being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate.”
PA has words from another eyewitness. Peter Jones, 44, from the Isle of Man, attended the parade and described the incident as “shocking”.
He said: “We were walking up Water Street, thousands around us.
“We heard a frantic beeping ahead, a car flew past me and my mate, people were chasing it and trying to stop him, windows smashed at the back.
“He then drove into people, police and medics ran past us, and people were being treated on the side of the road.
“There were a lot injured. We heard it behind us hit the crowds, then we saw half a dozen people [injured] in the road as we were walking up.
“It was shocking. We’re back at our hotel now, in a bit of a shock.”
The Premier League has said it is “shocked” by the incident in a post on X.
It read: “Everyone at the Premier League is shocked by the appalling events in Liverpool this evening, and our heartfelt thoughts go out to all those injured and affected.
“We have been in contact with Liverpool FC and have offered our full support following this serious incident.”
Everyone at the Premier League is shocked by the appalling events in Liverpool this evening, and our heartfelt thoughts go out to all those injured and affected.
We have been in contact with Liverpool FC and have offered our full support following this serious incident. https://t.co/SzbFxVIL7i
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 26, 2025
BBC reporter Matt Cole witnessed the incident while attending the parade with his family.
He told BBC News: “I was there with my family. We had just moments before watched fireworks going off and celebrations, the Liverpool bus passing us on the Strand.
“There were screams ahead of us and suddenly this dark blue car just came through the crowd.
“It just wasn’t stopping. I managed to grab my daughter who was with me and jump out of the way.
“It missed myself and my family by literally inches. We then turned and watched what happened momentarily behind us before running.
“It was being chased by a group of men who were trying to bang on the side of it and throw things at it.
“The back of the rear windshield had been completely smashed in, but it just had no intention of stopping.
“At that point, we and others dived into a sidestreet and then once I was sure my family were safe, I looked back to see people sitting on the ground surrounded by people.”
‘It was horrendous’: eyewitness describes incident
PA Media has some words from an eyewitness who was 10 ft away from the collision:
Harry Rashid, 48, from Solihull, was at the parade with his wife and two young daughters when he witnessed the collision. They were 10ft away.
He said: “The vehicle came to our right. It emerged from just right next to an ambulance, which was parked up. This grey people carrier just pulled up from the right and just rammed into all the people at the side of us.
“It was extremely fast. Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car.”
Rashid described how crowds began trying to smash the car windows: “Then he stalled for a few seconds, probably about 10 seconds. Then the crowd that was a bit further back started rushing at him trying to smash his windows.
“But then he put his foot down again and just ploughed through the rest of them, he just kept going. It was horrible. And you could hear the bumps as he was going over the people.
“Then my daughter started screaming and there were people on the ground. It looked clearly deliberate.
“They were just innocent people, just fans going to enjoy the parade. There were hundreds and thousands of us there because this is probably the busiest part of Liverpool.”
Rashid said: “Ambulances were already there. There was one right next to where this occurred, so there was a paramedic inside there.
“I just wanted my kids to get off the road regardless because I couldn’t trust whether there’s a follow-up attack or something like that. Because you are just exposed there on the pavement.
“I saw people lying on the ground, people unconscious. It was horrendous. So horrendous.”
Liverpool FC has issued a statement on the incident.
A spokesperson for the club said: “We are in direct contact with Merseyside police regarding the incident on Water Street which happened towards the end of the trophy parade earlier this evening.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who been affected by this serious incident. We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident.”
We are in direct contact with Merseyside Police regarding the incident on Water Street which happened towards the end of the trophy parade earlier this evening.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident.
We will continue to offer… pic.twitter.com/xreiSqiEnL
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 26, 2025
Counter-terror police involved in investigation
Vikram Dodd
The Guardian understands that counter-terrorism detectives are part of the investigation after a car ploughed into pedestrians in Liverpool.
The investigation, at this stage, is being led by Merseyside police, which covers Liverpool. The force is being supported by the North West counter-terrorism unit as detectives attempt to establish why the car hit the pedestrians, who were in the area to celebrate Liverpool’s winning of the Premier League title.
The involvement of counter-terrorism officers in the early stages of the investigation is a precaution, as detectives try to establish any motive behind the collision and whether it was deliberate or accidental.
Police say 53-year-old white British man has been arrested
Merseyside police have released a statement saying the suspect is a “53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area”.
Here is the full statement: “We would ask people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding tonight’s incident on Water Street in Liverpool city centre.
”We can confirm the man arrested is a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area.
“Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision.
“We would ask people not to share distressing content online but to send the footage or information directly to us @MerPolCC or pass on information by calling 101 quoting log 784.
”Information can also be passed on anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Opening summary
A man has been detained after a car collided with pedestrians in the city centre during Liverpool FC’s Premier League victory parade.
Details are still coming in but here is what he know so far:
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Emergency services arrived on Water Street after Merseyside police were contacted just after 6pm on Monday with reports of the incident.
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The car was stopped at the scene and a man was detained.
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Footage showed police cordons in place around the heavily littered road, with a large police presence, ambulances and a fire engine also at the scene.
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People were injured in the incident, with images capturing someone being taken away on a stretcher and a man walking with his arm around a police officer for support.
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The prime minister, Keir Starmer, and the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, are being kept updated about events.
We will bring you the latest updates as we get them.
