Driver Arrested After Vehicle Collides with Liverpool Fans During Celebration

Police in Liverpool have arrested a 53-year-old local man after a minivan drove into a crowd of soccer fans celebrating the city’s Premier League Championship victory on Monday evening. The incident occurred just after 6 p.m. on Water Street, where thousands of fans had gathered in the city center to mark the occasion.

According to Merseyside Police, officers were called to the scene following reports that a vehicle had collided with multiple pedestrians. The police confirmed that the van stopped at the scene and that the driver, identified as a white British man from Liverpool, was detained shortly afterwards. Authorities urged the public not to speculate about the circumstances of the incident as they continue their investigation, stating that “extensive inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision.”

The police further requested that people refrain from sharing graphic footage or content of the incident on social media, instead encouraging witnesses to submit any information or video directly to the authorities or via Crimestoppers. Despite these requests, several videos surfaced online early Monday evening, showing a gray minivan striking at least one pedestrian before veering into a dense crowd. The footage depicts the vehicle pushing victims along the street before eventually coming to a halt.

Harry Rashid, who attended the celebration with his wife and two young daughters, described the chaos as the car approached. “It was extremely fast,” he recalled. “Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car.” Rashid said the van began ramming people about ten feet from where his family was standing. After the initial impact, witnesses reported that the crowd tried to stop the driver by smashing the vehicle’s windows, but the driver allegedly accelerated again, driving further into the crowd.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented on the incident via social media, expressing his concern. “The scenes in Liverpool are appalling – my thoughts are with all those injured or affected,” Starmer wrote. He thanked emergency responders for their swift action and asked that police be given the necessary space to conduct their investigation.

The collision occurred after a day of festivities in the city, where tens of thousands of fans lined the streets in spite of rainy weather. Supporters waved flags and scarves as Liverpool players paraded through the city atop open-top buses, displaying the Premier League trophy and celebrating their team’s triumph.

Eyewitnesses like Rashid emphasized the shock and fear that gripped the crowd in the aftermath. “My daughter started screaming and there were people on the ground,” he recounted. “They were just innocent people, just fans going to enjoy the parade.”

As police continue their investigation, officials have not yet released details regarding the number of injuries or the possible motive behind the collision. Authorities are appealing to anyone with information or video evidence of the incident to come forward.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.