Probe into whether Liverpool driver tailgated ambulance before parade horror

Detectives are probing whether the car which ploughed into a crowd during Liverpool’s victory parade tailgated an ambulance before running down pedestrians.

The city’s metro mayor Steve Rotheram said the vehicle should not have been on the street and the “big question” was how the incident happened.

Mr Rotheram said four people are still “very, very ill in hospital” after the vehicle struck dozens of pedestrians on Water Street in the city centre on Monday.

It is understood Merseyside Police are investigating whether the driver attempted to follow an ambulance that was moving through the crowd.

A 53-year-old man was arrested after the “horror” incident and four children were among around 50 who were injured – including one child who was seriously hurt.

The force said the collision was not being treated as terrorism – adding that the suspect was white, British, from the Liverpool area and was the driver of the car.

The King described the incident as “truly devastating” and directed a message to the people of Liverpool, saying: “I know that the strength of community spirit for which your city is renowned will be a comfort and support to those in need.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales also said they were “deeply saddened” by the parade crash, adding: “What should have been a joyful celebration ended with tragedy.”

Addressing how the car was able to enter the road, metro mayor Mr Rotheram said questions about the issue were “legitimate”.

He said: “Water Street was not a route where vehicles were supposed to be using it, it was blocked off.

“At this end of it, which is the direction that it was coming in, towards The Strand, there were literally hundreds of thousands of people here, so no vehicle would have got through anyway.

“The questions, I suppose, are legitimate, but we have to give the police the time to conclude their investigations, which is what they’re doing.”

The damage vehicles can do when driven into crowds was laid bare in a series of attacks including in 2016 when a lorry ploughed into pedestrians in Nice, France, and the following year in London when vehicles were driven into crowds on Westminster Bridge and London Bridge.

Both permanent and temporary barriers and bollards are used commonly to protect the public, as seen in the massive security operation for the Queen’s funeral in 2022 which was the largest ever deployment of such measures.

Footage of the incident circulating online appeared to show people in the crowd following the Liverpool Football Club celebrations attempting to get close to the driver of the car, with one managing to open the driver’s car door.

Videos then appeared to show the driver close the car door before suddenly speeding up and veering into pedestrians on both sides of the crowded street.

The clips posted on social media then showed people from the crowds attempt to chase the driver – with some kicking the vehicle and smashing the back window.

Officers quickly surrounded the car as witnesses attempted to stop the driver, who was eventually detained by police.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday, Mr Rotheram said he was hopeful that those seriously injured “pull through very, very quickly”.

He told the broadcaster: “The actual incident in Water Street will live with those people for all the wrong reasons and that’s where we have to really focus our minds.

“There are still four people who are very, very ill in hospital and we are hoping of course that they pull through very, very quickly.”

The Prime Minister said he was in close contact with Mr Rotheram about the incident, adding: “Scenes of joy turned to utter horror and devastation, and my thoughts and the thoughts of the whole country are with all of those that are affected, those injured, which of course includes children, their families, their friends, the whole community, Liverpool fans everywhere.”

The Princess Royal visited the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, where medical staff spoke of how they were “very, very fortunate” that there were no more injuries.

Divisional medical director for surgery at Aintree University Hospital Marc Lucky also told Anne that an alert had been put out for staff to come in following the incident.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who attended the Premier League title parade, said he was “shocked and devastated”, adding: “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are injured and affected. You’ll never walk alone.”

Nick Searle, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service chief fire officer, said four people who were trapped under the car, including a child, were rescued by firefighters.

At a press conference late on Monday evening, Dave Kitchin from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said 27 people were taken to hospital and 20 people were treated at the scene, with four children among the injured.

He said two of those taken to hospital, including one of the children, suffered serious injuries.

Mr Kitchin said some patients had also taken themselves to local hospitals.

On Tuesday morning a police cordon remained in place at the scene, with a large police van parked in front of a blue tent on the road and officers stationed along the street.

Empty bottles and cans littered the road, and a Liverpool flag was attached to the top of traffic lights.

The Strand was reopened to traffic as usual.

A survivor of the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 said she was knocked to the floor by the car during the incident and does not “want to go out again”.

The woman, who gave her name as Frankie, 24, told the Mail Online: “I was at the Manchester Arena incident. I don’t want to go out again.

“The side of the car went into me and I fell to the floor. It’s all a blur.

“I’ve got cuts and bruises and I’ll be fine, but there’s loads who have got more severe injuries.”

Another witness, who gave their name as Mark, told ITV News a woman had said a baby had been hit by a car during the incident.

He told the broadcaster: “A woman ran by me and said the baby got hit by the car. She was running round looking for help.

“She came to us and we just directed her to the police and ambulance.”

Liverpool FC chief executive Billy Hogan thanked supporters who “helped each other where they could”, adding: “We continue to work with the emergency services and the local authorities to support their ongoing investigation, and once again we would ask if anyone has any further information about the incident, please contact Merseyside Police.”

Published: 27/05/2025 by Radio NewsHub