Dozens of people in Liverpool were injured after a driver drove into a celebrating crowd on Monday evening. Hundreds of thousands of football fans in the city were celebrating Liverpool’s national title. Police are not treating the incident as terrorism.
A total of 27 people were taken to hospital with injuries, including four children. Two people, including one of the children, are seriously injured. Twenty other injured people did not require hospitalization and were treated on the spot.
It took a few hours for the police to announce whether there were any injuries. The incident took place around 7:00 PM (Dutch time). Police then received a report of a “traffic collision” with “a number of pedestrians.”
The driver of the car was arrested at the scene. It is a 53-year-old man. The police explicitly state that it is a “white British man from the Liverpool area.” The police are not assuming terrorism.
They are continuing to investigate “the circumstances of the collision” and are asking the public not to speculate about a motive and not to spread misinformation on social media.
“The scenes in Liverpool are terrible. My thoughts are with all the injured and affected,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reacted on X shortly after the incident. He also thanked the police and emergency services for their “quick response.”
Liverpool players drove through the city in an open bus
Liverpool was driven through the city in an open bus to celebrate the national championship. The club secured the title four weeks ago, but the ceremony was postponed until after the last league game, which took place on Sunday.
Arne Slot has been the trainer of Liverpool since last season. The Dutch players Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo also play for the club.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this serious incident. We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities,” the football club reacted on X.