On 27 May 2025, a day of celebration in Liverpool turned into tragedy when a car ploughed into a crowd of fans during a parade celebrating the club's Premier League title win, injuring 47 people, including two seriously. The incident occurred around 6:00 PM on Water Street, shortly after the Liverpool team bus had passed the area.
The vehicle, driven by a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area, struck a large group of supporters gathered along the parade route. Videos on social media captured the horrifying moment fans were thrown into the air as the vehicle surged through the crowd. Witnesses reported that after an initial stop, the driver accelerated again, causing additional injuries.
According to the North West Ambulance Service, 27 people were taken to hospital, including four children. One child and one adult remain in serious condition. Another 20 individuals were treated on-site for minor injuries.
Eyewitness Mike Maddra described the car turning onto the pavement and heading toward the buildings. Harry Rashid, a parade attendee from Solihull, said he heard the sound of people being hit before realizing a vehicle was running through the crowd. BBC reporter Matt Cole, also present, narrowly escaped injury with his daughter, describing the car as missing them “by inches.”
As the car came to a stop, enraged fans smashed its windows. Police intervened to prevent further escalation and apprehended the driver at the scene. He remains in custody. Authorities, including temporary Deputy Chief Constable Jenny Sims, have confirmed the incident is not terrorism-related and appears to be an isolated case.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation and grief. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the event “appalling,” extending condolences to those affected. Liverpool’s city council leader Liam Robinson said the crash had “cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day.” Liverpool FC issued a statement expressing sorrow and confirmed it was working closely with Merseyside Police.
Citywide reactions were swift. Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and local rival club Everton FC both issued statements of solidarity. Emergency services responded rapidly, deploying ambulances, a fire engine, and air support. Paramedics treated victims inside nearby buildings, including Riva Italian restaurant.
The day had started in celebration, with hundreds of thousands of fans flooding the streets for the club’s record-equalling 20th English top-flight title. It was Liverpool’s first proper title parade since 1990 due to the cancellation of celebrations in 2020 amid COVID-19 restrictions.
The club’s stars, including Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, led the celebrations on an open-top bus over a 16-kilometre route, which took over four hours to complete. The parade had followed their final match against Crystal Palace on 25 May 2025, where they were formally awarded the trophy.
While this title marked a triumph for manager Arne Slot and his squad, the joy of the occasion was abruptly replaced by chaos and sorrow. The tragedy also resurfaced painful memories for the city, with Liverpool’s football history marked by past disasters — notably the 1989 Hillsborough stadium crush, where 97 fans died, and the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster, which killed 39.
Police continue to investigate the motive behind the incident and have urged the public not to speculate or share unverified claims online.
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