Police have arrested a male suspect believed to be the driver at the scene.
At least 47 people, including four children, were injured after a car plowed into a crowd during a victory parade for Liverpool’s Premier League soccer title on Monday, according to police.
Merseyside Police said they received calls after 6 p.m. local time that “a car had been in collision with a number of pedestrians” on Water Street in Liverpool city centre, England.
Police arrested a male suspect after the car stopped at the scene. Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said the suspect 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 and it is vital that people do not speculate or spread misinformation on social media,” Sims said at a press conference.
Dave Kitchin of North West Ambulance Service said that 27 people were hospitalized with injuries, while 20 others were treated at the scene. Among them were four children, one of whom sustained serious injuries.
A cyclist paramedic was struck by the vehicle but was not injured. Kitchin said that some patients self-presented at local hospitals following the “significant incident.”
Nick Searle, chief fire officer at the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, said that four people were trapped under the vehicle and have since been rescued.
“Our crews rapidly lifted the vehicle, removed people from beneath and passed them to our ambulance colleagues,” Searle told reporters, adding that fire crews will maintain a presence in the area in the coming days.
Footage shared on social media showed a gray minivan surrounded by people and police on the parade route, before it ploughed into the crowd, pushing people along the street before it came to a stop, surrounded by outraged fans.
Harry Rashid, who joined the parade with his wife and two children, told The Associated Press that the car was moving “extremely fast.”
“Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car,” Rashid said. Once the car stopped, the crowd surged toward it and began smashing the windows, he said.
“But then he put his foot down again and just plowed through the rest of them, he just kept going,” he stated. “It was horrible. And you could hear the bumps as he was going over the people.”
Another witness, Peter Jones, told the news outlet that the vehicle passed by him as people chased after it to try to stop it.
“He then drove into people, police, and medics ran past us, and people were being treated on the side of the road,” Jones said.
Police are still investigating the circumstances that led to the collision. Sims has urged people to refrain from sharing “distressing footage” from the incident.
“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,” Sims said. “The incident is not currently being treated as terrorism.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated on social media that he was being updated about the incident.
“The scenes in Liverpool are appalling—my thoughts are with all those injured or affected,” Starmer said.
Liverpool fans had gathered to celebrate the team’s winning the Premier League this season for a record-tying 20th top-flight title.
In a statement, Liverpool city council leader Liam Robinson said the incident “cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day for the city.”
“Once again, our hearts go out to all of those affected,” Robinson said. “Liverpool is a city that has a proud history of coming together and supporting each other during challenging times. I’ve no doubt that will again be the case over the coming days and weeks.”
The team said in a statement that it was in direct contact with Merseyside Police regarding the incident, adding: “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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