‘Cast a very dark shadow’: 47 injured after car hits crowd during Liverpool Parade

Footage shows the fraught moments before a car rammed through a crowd of Liverpool FC supporters.

A British man has been arrested after driving his car into a crowd of football fans celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League title victory, injuring at least 47 people.

Emergency services including an air ambulance swarmed to Water Street in the city centre after receiving calls just after 6pm as the parade was coming to an end.

Footage showed the horrific moment the dark-coloured vehicle collided with multiple pedestrians participating in the merriment before coming to a stop.

Members of the crowd then swarmed the car, banging on its windows. The driver, a white 53-year-old man from the Liverpool area, was arrested by police at the scene.

Another video, which seemed to be taken just before the incident, showed members of the crowd hitting the vehicle before the driver aggressively reversed and then accelerated forward.

Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said at a press conference the incident is not being treated as an act of terrorism.

“We believe this to be an isolated incident, and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it,” she told reporters.

North West Ambulance Service’s Dave Kitchen said that 47 people were injured. Twenty of those were treated at the scene with minor injuries, while 27 people were taken to various hospitals across Liverpool, including four children.

One adult and one child sustained serious injuries.

Four people – three adults and one child – were trapped under the car itself.

“The crews were met with numerous injured people and four persons trapped under a vehicle,” Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service chief fire officer, Nick Searle, said.

“Our crews rapidly lifted the vehicle (and) removed three adults and one child from beneath and passed them to our ambulance service colleagues.”

A car rammed into the Liverpool FC victory parade on May 26, 2025. Picture: X

A 53-year-old British man was arrested. Picture: X

Leader of Liverpool City Council, Liam Robinson, said the incident had “cast a very dark shadow of what had been a joyous day for the city and the finale to a fabulous bank holiday weekend”.

“On behalf of everyone here in Liverpool … our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this appalling incident in the city centre,” Mr Robinson told reporters.

“I’d particularly like to pay tribute to the emergency services who responded to help those who were hurt, and to our NHS staff treating them in hospital.

“We are working very closely with Merseyside police to support their investigation and with other relevant organisations to make sure those affected get the appropriate support.”

It was not immediately clear how many people were injured in the incident. Picture: Getty Images

In a statement, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “the whole country stands with Liverpool”.

“Tonight, I have spoken to (Liverpool mayor) Steve Rotheram about the terrible events in Liverpool and the remarkable bravery shown by the police and other emergency services,” he said.

“They are supporting and caring for those injured in these terrible events.

“Everyone, especially children, should be able to celebrate their heroes without this horror. The city has a long and proud history of coming together through difficult times.

“Liverpool stands together and the whole country stands with Liverpool.”

The incident is not being considered an act of terrorism. Picture: X

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the scenes as “truly shocking” and thanked the emergency services for their “swift response”.

Tens of thousands of people had turned out in torrential rain for the jubilant celebrations to see the northwest English side’s victory parade, involving players on an open-topped bus with fireworks.

The bus carrying the team had passed by Water Street just minutes before the car ran into the crowd, witnesses told media.

Crowd ‘tried to break the car’ after crash

Witness Natasha Rinaldi, who was watching the parade from her friend’s living room, told Sky News: “It was so loud. People sounded desperate. And then we looked out the window and we saw the car (had) run over people.”

“Then people started rushing to go after the driver and they tried to break the car,” she continued.

“The police did everything to block and to push people away.

“We could just hear screams and screams. We were very confused.”

Harry Rashid, who was at the parade with his wife and two young daughters, told reporters the incident occurred “extremely fast”.

“Initially we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of the car,” the 48-year-old said.

“It was horrible and you could hear the bumps as he was going over the people.”

A man is helped by police and emergency personnel. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA via AP

Daniel Jones, 28, was on Water Street celebrating when the van ploughed through the crowd only a few feet away from him and his mates.

“Luckily my wife had just gone up to the hotel with my three-year-old son,” he told The Sun.

“I dread to think what would have happened if they hadn’t done that. I was horrified. I was scared.

“There were paramedics on their hands and knees treating wounded people. It was a horrifying scene.”

He added that as soon as the car stopped, those who were not hit crowded the vehicle.

“A lot of people were evidently really angry. They were smashing (the car) up,” he said.

“Police were trying to restrain them. The back of the window was completely smashed.

“Everyone was just jumping onto that car, trying to jump on that car because officers were trying to restrain them.

“They were ripping the register plate off. The back window was broken when the [driver] was still in it.”

A large emergency service presence is pictured on Water Street. Picture: Getty Images

A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “We are currently dealing with reports of a road traffic collision in Liverpool city centre.”

“We were contacted at just after 6pm today, Monday 26 May, following reports a car had been in collision with a number of pedestrians on Water Street,” they continued.

“The car stopped at the scene and a male has been detained.

A later update added: “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 inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision.”

The car that ploughed into the crowd, surrounded by emergency service vehicles. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP

In its own statement, Liverpool FC said it was “in direct contact” with police regarding the crash.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident,” a spokesperson said.

“We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident.”
– With The Sun

Originally published as ‘Cast a very dark shadow’: 47 injured after car hits crowd during Liverpool Parade