Dozens injured after driver plows through pedestrians at Liverpool victory parade: Officials
Dozens of people were injured after a driver struck pedestrians in Liverpool on Monday, officials said, as hundreds of thousands had gathered at a parade celebrating the Liverpool Football Club winning the English Premier League soccer title.
The suspected driver has been taken into custody, police said, after what United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer called an "appalling" incident.
The vehicle collided with "a number of pedestrians on Water Street" just after 6 p.m. local time, Merseyside Police said.
"On arrival, the crews were met with numerous injured people and four persons trapped under a vehicle," Dave Kitchin with the Northwest Ambulance Service said at a press briefing.
Three adults and one child were pulled from under the vehicle, he said.
Twenty-seven people were transported to local hospitals, including an adult and a child with serious injuries, Kitchin said. Twenty people were treated at the scene for minor injuries, he said.
"Sadly, four of the injured were children who were enjoying the day with their friends and their families," Kitchin said.
Additionally, some patients brought themselves to local hospitals following the incident, he said.
The car stopped at the scene. The suspected driver -- a 53-year-old British man from the Liverpool area -- was arrested, according to police.
The incident is not being treated as terrorism and no other suspects are being sought at this time, according to Merseyside Assistant Chief Jenny Sims.
Multiple roads had been closed for the parade, she noted.
"Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision," Merseyside Police said in an update while asking the public "not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding tonight's incident."
Police also asked people to send related footage to them and "not to share distressing content online."
"I know that people will understandably be concerned by what has happened tonight," Sims said at the press briefing. "What I can tell you is that we believe this to be an isolated incident."
Starmer said the incident is "shocking."
"The scenes in Liverpool are appalling -- my thoughts are with all those injured or affected," Starmer said in a statement. "I'm being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate."
Liam Robinson from the Liverpool City Council said the incident "casts a very dark shadow over what had been a very joyous day."
The Liverpool Football Club said it is in contact with police regarding the incident, which occurred toward the end of the parade.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident," the club said in a statement. "We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident."
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
