A celebration meant to mark a proud moment for Liverpool FC fans took a terrifying turn on Bank Holiday Monday when a vehicle drove into a dense crowd during the club’s trophy parade. The incident happened around 6 p.m. on Water Street in Liverpool’s business district. In a video filmed from above, a people carrier is seen speeding down the road as fans scatter in panic. Some are seen grabbing loved ones and pulling them out of harm’s way.
One man, unable to move in time, is struck by the vehicle and slammed into the windscreen before collapsing to the ground. The car then veers sharply toward a section of the street where dozens had gathered against buildings. As it picks up speed again, it barrels into more people before slowing and coming to a stop in the middle of the road.
A large crowd swarmed the vehicle, with some people attempting to open the doors or smash the windows. People can be heard yelling in anger as one individual instructs the retaliating crowd to kill the driver. Meanwhile, others rushed to help those who had been hit. Police officers in bright jackets arrived within moments, pushing through the chaos to reach the scene.
According to Sky News, Natasha Rinaldi, who witnessed the chaos from a nearby flat, said screams filled the air. “People started rushing to go after the driver, and they tried to break the car. We were confused… no one expected this,” she recalled. “Some of my friends were right down there.”
Another witness, Harry Rashid, who attended the parade with his family, described the vehicle’s speed as “extremely fast”. Chelsea Yuen said the car was speeding in her direction while she was standing with her friend and her friend’s child. They all managed to dodge the vehicle by jumping to the side.
Reports say that a second video, captured from ground level, shows a group of men striking the vehicle moments before it surged into the crowd. Merseyside Police confirmed that a 53-year-old white British man has been arrested. The number of people injured has not yet been released, and it’s unclear if there are any fatalities.
