...
By Jenna Sundel and Gabe Whisnant
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A 53-year-old British man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after driving a minivan into a crowd of Liverpool soccer fans celebrating their team's Premier League title, injuring 65 people, police said Tuesday.
He is also being held on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving under the influence of drugs, according to Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill.
Firefighters had to lift the minivan to rescue four people trapped underneath. One of the injured was a medic who had been patrolling the event on a bicycle.
Read More on World
Police had restricted traffic in the area, but the driver is believed to have bypassed a roadblock by trailing an ambulance en route to assist someone suffering a suspected heart attack, Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said.
Merseyside Police confirmed they are not treating the incident as terrorism and are not seeking additional suspects. The driver remains unidentified, as U.K. police typically do not release names until formal charges are filed.
...
The Context
Liverpool Football Club's proud legacy remains shadowed by the tragedy at Hillsborough Stadium 36 years ago, which resulted in 97 fans losing their lives following a devastating crowd crush during an FA Cup semifinal match against Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium. The pain of the disaster was deepened by a prolonged cover-up and police failures that followed. When the club last won the league title in 2020, fans were unable to mark the achievement in public due to COVID-19 restrictions.
This year, tens of thousands of determined supporters defied the rain, waving flags and climbing traffic lights to catch a glimpse of the players aboard two open-top buses emblazoned with the words "Ours Again." The celebratory procession stretched across a 10-mile route, moving slowly through streets awash in red smoke, rain, and fireworks launched from the Royal Liver Building. A strong police presence accompanied the parade.
What To Know
Videos posted to social media appeared to show a gray minivan strike at least one pedestrian before veering into a crowd of people.
Merseyside Police wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday afternoon that the arrested individual was a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area.
Police disclosed that the suspect was white, a move that may have been intended to curb the spread of misinformation on social media. Officials have not released the subject's name.
Harry Rashid, who attended the event with his wife and two daughters, said the car began ramming into him about 10 feet away from him.
"It was extremely fast," he told the Associated Press. "Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car."
In recent years, vehicle-ramming incidents have emerged as a tragic and often deliberate form of mass violence, claiming lives in both public celebrations and everyday settings. These attacks typically involve drivers intentionally plowing into crowds, often during festivals, parades, or protests, causing chaos and mass casualties.
Last month, 11 people were killed in Vancouver, British Columbia, when an SUV sped through a closed street packed with festivalgoers. On New Year's Day, 15 people died in a similar event on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, just before the Super Bowl.
While motives behind these attacks vary—from terrorism to mental health crises—they highlight the growing threat posed by weaponized vehicles in crowded urban environments.
What People Are Saying
In a statement, as reported by the BBC, North West Ambulance Service described what happened in Liverpool as a "major incident": "Earlier this evening, we received a call to attend an incident in Liverpool. Our crew is working closely with the other agencies involved, including the Police and North West Ambulance Service. Our priority is the well-being of those involved and our thoughts are with those affected by the incident."
Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson said in a statement: "Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this appalling incident in the city center. It has cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day. We are working closely with Merseyside Police to support their investigation, and with other relevant organizations to make sure who's affected get the appropriate support."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on X on Monday: "The scenes in Liverpool are appalling — my thoughts are with all those injured or affected. I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident."
Parade-goer Harry Rashid in comments to the Associated Press: "My daughter started screaming and there were people on the ground. They were just innocent people, just fans going to enjoy the parade."
...
What Happens Next?
Starmer said he is being kept updated on the latest developments and asked the public to give police "the space they need to investigate."
Merseyside Police asked people on X not to speculate as "extensive" inquiries into the circumstances leading up to the incident are ongoing. Police also asked people not to share "distressing content online" and to instead share the footage or information with the Merseyside Police Contact Center.
Last summer, a teenager in the nearby town of Southport fatally stabbed three girls during a dance class and injured 10 others, including two adults. Misinformation quickly circulated on social media, falsely identifying the suspect and claiming he was an asylum-seeker. In reality, the attacker was U.K.-born. The false narrative fueled a wave of unrest across England and Northern Ireland, leading to riots that targeted Muslims and refugees, particularly at hotels housing asylum-seekers, with the violence lasting for approximately a week.
Update 5/26/25, 3:46 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 5/26/25, 5:10 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Update 5/26/25, 5:44 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional remarks.
Update 5/26/25, 6:14 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 5/26/25, 6:37 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 5/26/25, 8:04 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Correction: 5/27/25, 06:08 a.m. ET: This article was corrected to change the opposing team from Sheffield to Nottingham Forest.
Update: 5/27/25, 12:41 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines