A driver crashed a car into a crowd of pedestrians in England on Monday during a parade celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League victory, which was attended by hundreds of thousands of people. It injured at least 47 people. Netizens have questioned the police’s reaction, asking ‘Why are the police so slow to react?’
Merseyside Police reported that they were alerted around 6 p.m. on Monday as per its local time.
Footage shared on social media captures a dark-colored vehicle with a shattered rear window swerving into the parade and striking several people, leaving some lying on the ground. Bystanders are seen rushing to help the injured, including those trapped under the car, and surrounding the vehicle once it came to a stop.
The video also shows witnesses trying to intervene, with one person managing to open the driver’s-side door before the man behind the wheel forcefully shuts it and accelerates further into the crowd.
Netizens react
One of the users said, “I think it’s a jealous fan.” Another stated, “How did the car end up in the middle of the crowd with the ambulance/ van in the first place?” “Why are the police so slow to react?” commented the third. “That’s horrific. Did the driver survive the fans wrath?”, “Heartbreaking, horrifying scenes. Absolutely shocking that” were some other remarks made. Some wished recovery to injured.
“What I can tell you is that we believe this to be an isolated incident and we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with it. The incident is not being treated as terrorism,” Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims of the Merseyside Police said.
Liverpool FC parade car crash: At least 47 injured
According to the ambulance service on Monday night, at least 47 people were injured in the crash, including four children. 27 individuals were transported to hospitals, with two, one of them a child, suffering serious injuries. Another 20 people were treated at the scene for minor injuries. A paramedic on a bicycle was also hit by the vehicle but was not seriously hurt, reports said.
The fire and rescue service reported that four people, including a child, were briefly trapped beneath the car.
Liverpool FC parade car crash: Suspect arrested
Police stated that a 53-year-old British man from the Liverpool area was arrested after the car came to a stop at the scene. “We believe him to be the driver of the vehicle,” Sims stated at the news conference.