Van Rams Into Liverpool Title Parade Crowd, Injuring Over 45

Van Rams Into Liverpool Title Parade Crowd, Injuring Over 45

Last Updated May - 27 - 2025, 12:40 PM | Source : Fela News

A 53-year-old British man drove a minivan into a crowd of Liverpool football fans celebrating the city's Premier League title on Monday (May 26, 2025), injuring more than 45 people and turning a day of joy into chaos and panic.

Authorities said the man, who was arrested at the scene, is believed to have acted alone. The incident is not being treated as terrorism. According to Dave Kitchin of North West Ambulance Service, 27 people were taken to hospitals—two of them in serious condition—while another 20 received treatment on-site for minor injuries. Among the injured were at least four children.

Four individuals, including a child, were trapped beneath the vehicle and had to be rescued by firefighters who lifted the minivan off them. A paramedic on a bicycle was also struck but escaped injury. “It has cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day for the city,” said City Council leader Liam Robinson during a late-night press briefing.

The vehicle, a grey minivan, suddenly entered the parade route just as the celebration was winding down, ploughing through a dense crowd of fans adorned in red Liverpool scarves and jerseys. A video shared online showed the van hitting a man and sending him airborne before barreling into the larger crowd, pushing people along the street before coming to a halt. “It was extremely fast,” said eyewitness Harry Rashid, who was with his wife and two young daughters. “At first, we just heard the thuds—people being knocked off the bonnet of a car.”

Rashid described how angry fans then surrounded the stopped van and began smashing its windows. “But then he hit the gas again and just tore through more people,” he added. “It was horrible. You could hear the bumps as he drove over them.” He said the attack appeared intentional. “My daughter started screaming. People were on the ground. They were just fans, there to enjoy the parade.”

Hundreds of thousands had gathered to mark Liverpool’s historic 20th top-flight title. Peter Jones, a supporter from the Isle of Man, said he heard a loud crash and saw several people on the ground. “There was frantic honking, a car sped past me and my mate, people were chasing it, smashing its windows,” he said. “Then it slammed into the crowd. Police and medics rushed in and people were being treated on the roadside.”

Authorities urged the public not to share graphic footage or jump to conclusions while investigations continue.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the incident, praising the courage of emergency responders. “Everyone, especially children, should be able to celebrate their heroes without fear,” he said. “Liverpool has always stood strong through adversity, and the entire nation stands with the city today.”

The attack rekindled painful memories of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, where 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives in a stadium crush, a tragedy exacerbated by a long-running coverup and police mismanagement.

Liverpool fans had been denied a proper celebration of their 2020 title due to COVID-19 restrictions. This time, despite the rain, jubilant supporters lined the 16-kilometer parade route, waved flags, and climbed traffic lights to glimpse their team on open-top buses marked “Ours Again.” Fireworks lit up the Royal Liver Building amid a heavy police presence.

Liverpool FC issued a brief statement saying its thoughts were with the victims, and the Premier League also expressed deep shock at the “appalling events.”

Police released the suspect’s identity as white, likely in an effort to curb misinformation. Last summer, a stabbing spree in nearby Southport left three girls dead and 10 others injured. False claims spread online blaming an asylum seeker, which triggered riots targeting Muslim and refugee communities across England and Northern Ireland, fueled by the suspect's misidentification—he was later confirmed to be British-born.

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