Vehicle Rushes into Liverpool EPL Victory Parade Site, 27 Sent to Hospital

[Financial News]  In Liverpool, UK, a vehicle rushed into the crowd gathered for the victory celebration parade of the English Premier League (EPL) Liverpool, causing dozens of injuries.

According to AP News on the 26th (local time), around 6 PM that day, a small van rushed towards pedestrians on Water Street in Liverpool.

At the time, hundreds of thousands of people had gathered on both sides of the 10-mile (about 16 km) route to watch Liverpool FC's EPL victory celebration parade. A vehicle rushed into the fans gathered for the event, injuring at least 47 people. 20 people received first aid on the spot, and 27 were transported to the hospital.

Local rescue authorities stated that among the injured transported to the hospital, 4 were children, with 1 child and 1 adult sustaining serious injuries.

The incident occurred shortly after the main parade ended and road control was lifted, reported the Guardian.

Videos of the situation at the time were uploaded on social networking services (SNS), showing a black van hitting a person in the crowd, changing lanes, and then rushing directly towards the crowd. The vehicle stopped after pushing through the crowd, and police nearby arrested the driver.

The police stated, "The arrested man is a 53-year-old white British man from Liverpool," and added, "An investigation is underway to understand the circumstances leading to the incident." They also mentioned, "It appears to be a standalone incident with no connection to anyone else," and "This incident will not be investigated as a 'terror act.'"

Harry Rashid (48), who witnessed the scene, told PA Media, "The incident occurred about 10 feet (about 3 m) from where we were," and described, "The car was very fast, and I heard 'bang, bang, bang' sounds of people falling off the car bonnet." He added, "There were people lying on the ground, unconscious," and "It was really terrible."

Liverpool FC stated on X (formerly Twitter), "We extend our condolences to those affected by the serious incident that occurred this evening," and "We will continue to provide full support to the emergency services and local authorities dealing with this incident."

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also stated on X, "I extend my condolences to everyone injured or affected by the horrific scenes in Liverpool," and "I thank the police and emergency services for their swift response to this shocking incident."

newssu@fnnews.com Kim Suyeon Reporter