Liverpool Postpone Title Party After Parade Incident

Liverpool will reportedly postpone further events celebrating their Premier League title celebration in the wake of horrific scenes at their trophy parade on Monday afternoon.

The title winners were touring the city in their pomp during the planned festivities before a car drove into a crowd of fans in a shocking incident that has left 47 people injured.

Of that number, 20 were treated at the scene, with 27 people take to hospital and four are still seriously injured after the Ford Galaxy car was repeatedly driven into bystanders at the tail end of the parade on Walter Street.

A 53-year-old white male was taken into custody, and the incident is not being treated as terrorism.

Liverpool – as well as a number of the club’s Premier League rivals – were quick to share their shock at the incident and their deepest sympathies with the victims.

But as per a leaked email seen by the BBC, the club will also pause celebrating themselves, with events casting a pall over the festivities.

According to the outlet, the email suggests that a number of planned internal events for staff have been cancelled, with the club intent on using their time and resources to help those affected.

The email is said to stress that the club ‘will continue to offer (their) full support to the emergency services and local authorities.’

The Liverpool hierarchy also encouraged their employees and the club to ‘come together at this time to support each other’.

On Monday night, Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Simms of Merseyside Police confirmed that the police are treating the crash as an isolated incident.

‘My thoughts are with all those injured in tonight’s horrific incident,’ Simms shared in a statement.

‘This had been a joyous day in Liverpool with hundreds of thousands of people lining the streets to celebrate Liverpool Football Club’s parade.

‘Sadly, at 6pm as the parade was drawing to a close, we received reports that a car was in collision with a number of pedestrians in Water Street.’

‘We believe this to be an isolated incident and are not currently looking for anyone else. The incident is not being treated as terrorism.’

Liverpool City Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said this morning there are ‘still four people who are very, very ill in hospital’.

Asked whether that reflects an increase on the previous number of seriously injured – given by authorities last night as one adult and one child – he told BBC 5 Live: ‘No, not directly, but of course we’re in liaison with the police and with the ambulance services.’

Video circulating online showed the people carrier moving slowly along the crowded street. Pedestrians appeared to stop it and try and pull the driver from the passenger seat, shouting ‘what are you doing?’

It reversed before suddenly accelerated into the tightly packed crowd of supporters, with witnesses describing the screams of victims and the sickening thud of bodies being flung over the bonnet.

The vehicle accelerated veering right then left, travelling across the street mounting the pavement, hitting men, women and even a baby, witnesses said.

When the car eventually slowed to a stop, angry fans surged forward hitting it, throwing bottles, screaming ‘kill him’ as others attempted to lift the vehicle to rescue pedestrians trapped under the wheels.

Within seconds, the driver was dragged from his seat before police intervened.

Liverpool City Council Leader Liam Robinson said the crash had cast a ‘very dark shadow’ over what had been a joyful celebration.

Dailymail.co.uk