A 53-year-old British man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving, and drug-impaired driving after plowing his vehicle into a crowd celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League victory, police revealed.
The horrific incident occurred on Tuesday when the suspect allegedly followed an ambulance through a temporary roadblock in Liverpool’s city center before speeding into pedestrians in his Ford Galaxy. Authorities confirmed that the barrier had been briefly lifted to allow paramedics to assist a man suffering a suspected heart attack.
Despite the severity of the crash—which left 65 injured, including four children—miraculously, no lives were lost. Eleven victims remain hospitalized but are in stable condition.
Merseyside Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims stated that the suspect is not believed to have terrorist motives. “There was no prior intelligence indicating an attack of this nature,” she said, emphasizing that a thorough investigation is ongoing. Sims also defended the police presence during the event, stating that all possible risks had been considered.
King Charles, currently visiting Canada with Queen Camilla, expressed his shock and sorrow in an official statement. “What should have been a day of celebration has ended in devastation,” he said. “The resilience of Liverpool’s community will be a source of strength for those affected.” He also praised the emergency responders for their swift action.
Prince William and Princess Catherine, both avid football supporters, shared their grief on social media: “Our hearts go out to the injured and the brave first responders who acted so quickly.”
Disturbing footage from a nearby shop captured the car moving slowly through the crowd before suddenly accelerating. Witness Matthew O’Carroll recounted narrowly avoiding the crash, saying, “If we’d left a minute later, we could have been hurt. It’s just horrifying.”
Robbie Potter, a survivor of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, described a near-miss with the vehicle. “I thought it was another terror attack,” he said. “Ten seconds earlier, and I would’ve been hit.”
As the investigation continues, the city remains in shock over the senseless violence that marred what should have been a day of celebration.
