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Four children injured as car hits Liverpool crowd

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Four children were among dozens injured after a car was driven into a crowd of pedestrians who had watched Liverpool FC's open-top bus Premier League trophy parade.

The people carrier struck a dense crowd on Water Street in the city centre at shortly before 18:00 BST - an attack not being treated as a terrorist incident by police.

Merseyside Police said a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area, believed to have been the driver, was detained at the scene and added it is not looking for anyone else.

One child and three adults had to be freed from under the vehicle by fire crews, and of 27 people taken to hospital, one child and one adult suffered "serious injuries".

Ass Ch Con Jenny Sims, speaking at a press conference in the Cunard Building in Liverpool, said on Monday evening that the force believed the attack was not terror-related and was being treated as an "isolated incident".

"Extensive inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision," she said.

"It is vital that people do not speculate or spread misinformation on social media."

David Kitchin, service lead for Mersey Cheshire at the North West Ambulance Service, said 20 people at the scene were also treated for minor injuries that did not require hospital treatment.

"This is indeed an appalling incident and we understand that people will be deeply upset," he said.

Mr Kitchin said the vehicle had struck a cycling paramedic on site as part of the preparations for the parade, but they had escaped without injury.

Nick Searle, chief fire officer at Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, said his officers had to lift the vehicle to rescue those trapped beneath.

The patients were taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Arrowe Park and Aintree Hospital.

Videos widely circulating on social media showed the vehicle come to a stop before members of the public swarmed around it and banged on its surfaces.

Other videos seem to show a man in the car arguing with pedestrians and beeping his horn before accelerating forwards.

Businesses around the Water Street area, including restaurants Blu Riva and Mowgli, were offering shelter to people injured in the attack.

Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson told the press conference the attack had "cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day for the city".

He appealed for people not to share footage of the incident on social media.

"Once again, our hearts go out to all those affected," he 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."

Eyewitnesses described a scene of total panic.

Peter Jones, visiting from the Isle of Man to watch the parade, said: "We heard a frantic beeping ahead, a car flew past me and my mate, people were chasing it and trying to stop him, windows smashed at the back.

"He then drove into people, police and medics ran past us, and people were being treated on the side of the road.

"There were a lot injured. We heard it behind us hit the crowds, then we saw half a dozen people [injured] in the road as we were walking up."

The 44-year-old said he and his friend were "in a bit of a shock" as they headed back to their hotel.

Harry Rashid was also on Water Street with his wife and two young daughters.

"It was extremely fast," he said.

"Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car.

"My daughter started screaming and there were people on the ground.

"I saw people lying on the ground, people unconscious.

"It was horrendous. So horrendous."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the scenes in Liverpool had been "appalling" and said his thoughts were with those affected.

"I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident," he said.

"I'm being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate."

Liverpool FC also issue a statement and said the club was in direct contact with the police.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those who been affected by this serious incident," a spokesperson said.

"We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident."

 
Was praying last night nobody had been killed.

Thankfully it's "only" injuries and not fatalities. Merseyside Police immediately released details of the driver (a 53 year old white British man) to avoid a repeat of the aftermath of the Southport incident, and stated it's not terrorism related.

One of the happiest days of my life following Liverpool and one idiot does this. Hope everyone in hospital makes a full and speedy recovery.
 
Sad Sad day. People can't celebrate nowadays without lunatics roaming around and causing havoc!

Speedy recovery for everyone effected.
 
Starmer: Liverpool stands together and the country stands with them

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says he is being kept updated with the police investigation in Liverpool, and sends his thoughts to the community in his first comments this morning.

“Liverpool stands together and the whole country stands with them," Starmer tells broadcasters.

The prime minister also thanks the first responders "who did a fantastic job last night and continue to do so”.

He says he is "being updated frequently" on the police investigation, while also remaining in close contact with Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram.

Starmer is also asked about the police's decision to share the suspect's ethnicity early on, and he refuses to be drawn on whether this was the correct decision.

“That is a matter for the police and the investigation is ongoing so I think we need to leave that for them," he responds.

BBC
 
I had the misfortune of opening the video of the incident.

It is too soon to point fingers, and it doesn't absolve the driver, but how the hell were vehicles allowed near the public gatherings?
 
I had the misfortune of opening the video of the incident.

It is too soon to point fingers, and it doesn't absolve the driver, but how the hell were vehicles allowed near the public gatherings?


From what I read the driver had come out of a pub and was drunk.
 
Tragic incident after an incredible weekend for the city and the fans.

The turnout was huge but that car should never have made it so close to such a large crowd.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
 
Terrible incident, hopefully everyone who was injured makes a full recovery and the idiot driver faces justice, also if there were policing and security failings then people should be held accountable for that.
 
I had the misfortune of opening the video of the incident.

It is too soon to point fingers, and it doesn't absolve the driver, but how the hell were vehicles allowed near the public gatherings?
Liverpool Echo reporting the road was closed but it was opened to allow an ambulance through and this guy tailed it.

Obviously that's just one line of enquiry and no point speculating.
 
Thank God they released the identity of the driver immediately, as otherwise, the white racists and Hindus would have presumed that it was a Muslim immigrant and we would have seen the repeat of the riots that we saw after the Southport incident.
That's exactly why they did it. It's the same police force, Merseyside Police.

They've announced the driver was on drugs. The road was closed but was temporarily opened for an ambulance to treat someone having a heart attack. Unfortunately he tailed the ambulance.

All victims stable and recovering. Could've been much worse, hopefully we can move on and this guy has the book thrown at him.
 
Liverpool parade crash suspect to appear in court

A father-of-three and former Royal Marine has been charged following the Liverpool parade crash in which 79 people were injured.

Paul Doyle, 53, from Burghill Road in West Derby, was arrested on Monday, when a car ploughed into fans attending Liverpool's Premier League victory celebration, Merseyside Police confirmed. He will appear at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Friday morning.

A nine-year-old was among those injured when the car Mr Doyle is alleged to have been driving crashed into supporters at 18:00 BST on Water Street.

The local businessman faces multiple counts of causing, and attempting to cause unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent as well as one of dangerous driving and two counts of unlawful and malicious wounding with intent.

Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims, of Merseyside Police, told a news conference seven people remain in hospital after the incident.

The BBC has spoken to the suspect's neighbours, who said they were shocked and in "disbelief".

They said that Burghill Road was swarming with police in the hours after the crash.

One said: "I came out late on Monday night and there's police everywhere. Looking around all the houses, so I had a thought - imagine if it was him?"

Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said detectives were reviewing a "huge volume" of CCTV and mobile phone footage.

Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Crown Prosecution Service in the Mersey-Cheshire region, said this included footage from CCTV, mobile phones, businesses and dashcams, along with witness statements.

She said the charges "will be kept under review" while the investigation progresses.

"It is important to ensure every victim gets the justice they deserve," she added.

Mr Doyle has been charged with seven offences, which can be broken down into four groups.

The first includes two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) – one of these is an alleged offence against one child.

The second is two counts of causing unlawful and malicious GBH with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

According to the Sentencing Council, it relates to the nature of the injury allegedly caused.

GBH does not require an open wound to have been suffered. Wounding requires the victim's skin to have been broken.

Mr Doyle also faces two charges of attempted unlawful and malicious GBH with intent to cause GBH, and again one of these alleged offences relates to a child.

The final count is dangerous driving.

Police confirmed the ages of those injured in the incident ranged from nine to 78.

Assistant Chief Constable Sims, said she understood many have questions about the incident, and detectives were "working tirelessly, with diligence and professionalism, to seek the answer to all of those questions".

"When we are able to, we will provide further information," she added.

BBC
 
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