A celebratory event in Liverpool marking the city’s Premier League championship turned tragic when a minivan driven by a 53-year-old white British man plowed into a crowd of jubilant fans, injuring more than 45 individuals. The chaos unfolded on Monday as Liverpool supporters, adorned in red scarves and jerseys, filled the streets to celebrate their team’s record-tying 20th top-flight title. Authorities quickly confirmed the driver acted alone, and the incident is not being investigated as terrorism.
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Driver Plows Into Crowd as Celebration Turns to Panic
The van entered the parade route unexpectedly and collided with numerous fans, resulting in a scene of confusion and horror. At least 27 people were transported to the hospital, including two who sustained serious injuries. Emergency responders treated another 20 individuals at the scene, and at least four children were among the wounded. Some of the most harrowing moments occurred when four people, including a child, were trapped beneath the vehicle and had to be freed by firefighters. A bicycle paramedic was also hit but remained unharmed.
Video footage shared online captured the moment the van struck a man and then continued into a denser part of the crowd, dragging victims along the street before finally coming to a halt. Eyewitness Harry Rashid, who was present with his wife and two young daughters, described the sound of people being hit as a series of “pop, pop, pop.” Rashid recalled how onlookers reacted by surrounding the van and smashing its windows. “But then he put his foot down again and just plowed through the rest of them,” he said. “It was horrible. And you could hear the bumps as he was going over the people.”
Eyewitnesses Recount Scenes of Devastation
Many attendees were traumatized by the incident. Peter Jones, who had traveled from the Isle of Man, recounted hearing the crash and seeing several people lying injured on the ground. He described the suspect’s vehicle speeding past him, pursued by individuals attempting to intervene. “He then drove into people, police and medics ran past us, and people were being treated on the side of the road,” Jones stated.
City Council leader Liam Robinson addressed the public during a late-night press briefing, acknowledging the dark shadow cast over what was meant to be a triumphant day. The celebration had drawn hundreds of thousands of fans who braved rain and cold temperatures to witness the players ride atop open-top buses along a 10-mile route through the city. Fireworks erupted from the Royal Liver Building as fans waved flags and climbed traffic lights for a glimpse of their team.
A City Haunted by Past Tragedies
The tragic event evoked painful memories for many, especially considering Liverpool Football Club’s historical connection to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, where 97 fans died in a stadium crash. That incident was followed by years of controversy over the handling and misreporting of the events by authorities. Adding to the emotional weight, fans were previously denied a public celebration for Liverpool’s 2020 title win due to COVID-19 restrictions.
In response to the Monday incident, both the football club and the Premier League released statements expressing their condolences and support for the victims. Liverpool FC said its “thoughts and prayers were with those affected,” while the Premier League expressed shock at the “appalling events in Liverpool.”
Authorities Urge Caution as Investigations Continue
Prime Minister Keir Starmer also addressed the public reaction, condemning the violence and praising emergency personnel. “Everyone, especially children, should be able to celebrate their heroes without this horror,” Starmer said. “Liverpool stands together, and the whole country stands with Liverpool.” Authorities urged the public not to speculate about the motive or circulate graphic footage online as investigations continue.
Police specified the suspect’s race, a move interpreted as an effort to prevent the spread of misinformation. This comes in the wake of last year’s tragedy in nearby Southport, where false reports about a stabbing suspect being an asylum seeker led to a week of rioting across England and Northern Ireland, targeting Muslims and refugees in hotels. In that case, the attacker was later confirmed to be U.K.-born.
Liverpool Strives to Heal After a Day of Horror
What began as a day of unity and pride for Liverpool ended in injury and distress for dozens of fans. As authorities work to understand the circumstances behind the attack, the city once again finds itself facing a period of mourning and recovery. With support from leaders, football institutions, and the wider public, Liverpool is expected to rally once more, drawing on its long history of resilience.
