Key events
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has commented on the incident.
He ended a post on X with the line: “The public deserve to know the full facts as quickly as possible”, which has drawn some ire.
Khayer Chowdhury, a Labour councillor in Redbridge, east London replied: “A disgusting tweet from a nasty party that is now rightfully heading straight into history’s dustbin. Have some self-respect and dignity you opportunistic, rancid idiot.”
My thoughts are with the victims, Liverpool fans and the people of that great City this evening
The appalling footage depicts a car being driven into fans as they celebrated Liverpool’s Premier League win
The public deserve to know the full facts as quickly as possible https://t.co/ie4IpiAH6b
— Chris Philp MP (@CPhilpOfficial) May 26, 2025
Twenty-three minutes after Philp’s tweet, Merseyside police released more information about the incident, including confirming that “the man arrested is a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area”.
Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool city council is now speaking. He said: “I’d like to start by saying, on behalf of everyone here in Liverpool, how much our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this appalling incident in the city center.
“Today has cast a very dark shadow of what had been a joyous day for the city and the finale to a fabulous bank holiday weekend. 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.
“I would appeal for people please do not share the horrifying footage of the incident on social media. If you have any information, forward it to Merseyside police to help them with their investigation. We won’t be commenting any further, but we will provide relevant updates as and when we know more and it’s appropriate to do so.”
Nick Searle, the chief fire officer is speaking now. He said: “This evening, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service were informed at 18:07 hours and we immediately mobilised three fire engines to Water Street and were in attendance in four minutes on arrival.
“The crews were met with numerous injured people and four persons trapped under a vehicle. Our crews rapidly lifted the vehicle removed three adults and one child from beneath and passed them to our ambulance service colleagues.”
Twenty-seven people taken to hospital, two have sustained serious injuries
Kitchen said four of the injured were children. He said 20 people were treated for minor injuries. Twenty-seven were taken to hospital and two of them, including one child, are thought to have sustained serious injuries.
Dave Kitchen, from the north-west ambulance service is now speaking. He said he was “horrified and saddened that a day of celebration for the people of Liverpool could end in such terrible circumstances”.
Incident not being treated as terrorism
Simms said the incident is not being treated as terrorism.
Simms said the 53-year-old white British man is believed to be driver of the car.
She said: “The car stopped at the scene and a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area was arrested, we believe him to be the driver of the vehicle.
“Extensive inquiries 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.”
The press conference has now begun. Assistant chief constable Jenny Simms is speaking.
“My thoughts are with all those injured in tonight’s horrific incident, their family and friends and all of those affected by the terrible tragedy that has taken place today.
“I want to thank all of the emergency services partner agencies and members of the public who came to the assistance of the injured following this evening’s shocking incidents, which we declared a major incident.
“This had been a joyous day in Liverpool, with hundreds of thousands of people lining the streets to celebrate Liverpool football club’s victory parade. Sadly, at six o’clock this evening, as the parade was drawing to a close, we received reports that a car had been in a collision with a number of pedestrians on Water Street in Liverpool city centre.”
Interim summary
As we await a police press conference expected in the next few minutes, here is a brief summary of where things stand in relation to the awful events that unfolded in Liverpool earlier today. Stay with us for the news developments as they happen.
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The British prime minister, Keir Starmer, said he was being kept updated about the collision in Liverpool, where a car appeared to hit a number of people during Liverpool’s Premier League title celebrations tonight. “The scenes in Liverpool are appalling, my thoughts are with all those injured or affected. I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident,” Starmer said in initial comments posted on social media.
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Liverpool city council leader Liam Robinson said the “appalling” incident has “cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day”. In a statement, he said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this appalling incident in the city centre.” He said the council was working closely with the police.
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The north-west ambulance service said it cleared the scene at about 9.30pm local time and an update on casualty numbers will be given at a press conference scheduled for later today.
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The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, 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.”
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Witness 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.”
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A man has been detained after a car collided with pedestrians in the city centre during Liverpool FC’s Premier League victory parade. People were injured in the incident and the car was stopped at the scene.
The British health secretary, Wes Streeting, has posted on social media about the “horrible incident” in Liverpool.
“I would like to thank our amazing emergency services for their heroic actions this evening in Liverpool,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
He added: “My heart goes out to everyone impacted in this horrible incident.”
Streeting finished his post by saying, about the National Health Service: “My Department is working with NHS England to keep across any developments for our NHS staff.”
Josh Halliday
Our north of England editor, Josh Halliday, has spoken to another witness.
Les Winsper, 55, witnessed the incident unfold right in front of him.
“People started banging on the [car] windows,” he said. “Then they smashed the windows and he panicked and put his foot down. He then hit someone and that person has gone in the air and he’s ploughed through the rest of them. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Winsper’s friend, Craig Steward, 52, said there was “chaos” with “people crying, children crying, shaking”
Both men said the incident lasted 20 to 30 seconds.
Winsper said the first victim was thrown “about 20 feet” in the air by the collision.
He added: “I personally think he’s hit someone by mistake … and then he’s put his foot down … It was the worst thing I’ve seen in my life, you see it on TV. That’s why all the kids are crying because they witnessed it … I’m traumatised”.
Liverpool council leader: “Very dark shadow cast over what had been a joyous day”
Liverpool city council leader Liam Robinson said the “appalling” incident has “cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day”.
In a statement, he said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this appalling incident in the city centre.
“It has cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day.
“We are working closely with Merseyside police to support their investigation, and with other relevant organisations to make sure those affected get the appropriate support.”
