‘Family man’: Liverpool suspect is business owner, dad of three

The man arrested on suspicion of mowing down dozens of people during a Liverpool football parade is a ‘pleasant’ business owner married to a teacher, who has competed in triathlons.

British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper speaks with Deputy Chief Constable Chris Green and Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, as they walk from the incident area. Picture: Getty Images.

The man arrested on suspicion of mowing down dozens of people with a car during the Liverpool Football Club victory parade is a middle-class father of three who lives in a detached suburban home.

According to social media, the 53-year-old business owner has competed in triathlons, climbed Kilimanjaro and enjoyed holidays to exotic locations.

On Wednesday Merseyside police were given more time to question the man, who has not been named, on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving offences and driving while unfit through drugs.

The number of people injured rose to 79, including young children who were caught up in the mayhem. The force said seven people remained in hospital in a stable condition.

Officers were examining “horrific” video from the dashboard camera of the people carrier that was driven into supporters in the city centre on Monday.

Neighbours described the suspect as “such a normal Liverpool dad” and a “genuinely pleasant family man”. When police arrived late on Monday night, they assumed there had been a burglary.

A police officer was seen outside his four-bedroom family home in the West Derby suburb, where the suspect lives with his teacher wife and their three children.

A mechanic who serviced their dark grey Ford Galaxy last year confirmed that it matched the people carrier involved in the crash on Monday.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “He was very thoughtful, and would look out for older residents in the street. I really struggle to believe how he could be the [arrested man]. He’s the last person on this street I would have thought would be connected to something like that.

“I feel awfully sorry for the people who were hurt during the parade. But I feel very sorry for his family as well, who always struck me as nice, decent people.”

The Times