Car ploughs into crowd at Liverpool's league trophy parade, injures 47, including 4 children

A 53-year-old white British man was arrested after he allegedly drove a car into a crowd of fans celebrating Liverpool football club's 20th Premier League trophy at a parade on May 26 at around 6pm.

A total of 47 people were injured, including four children.

During tail-end of celebrations

The incident occurred at the tail-end of celebrations, where Liverpool football club paraded the Premier League trophy along a 16km route over three-and-a-half hours, with a finale slated to take place on the Strand in the city centre.

However, chaos erupted on Water Street, about a mile before the parade's endpoint.

An estimated 800,000 supporters had lined the streets during the celebrations, The Mirror reported.

Children among those injured

Police said three adults and one child were trapped underneath the car, believed to be a grey Ford Galaxy.

A witness claimed that the driver had left a nearby bar moments before the crash, The Daily Mail reported.

The car was seen being surrounded and attacked by angry fans as the driver attempted to reverse out of the packed street.

People hit the windows and kicked the tires.

The car was apparently travelling at about 50kmh and had been sounding its horn as it made its way through the crowd.

It suddenly accelerated, swerved, and mounted the pavement, striking numerous people over 180m.

When the car eventually stopped, a group of people attacked the car and screamed "kill him" at the driver.

Others tried to lift the vehicle to get to the pedestrians trapped underneath.

The driver was dragged from his seat within seconds before police intervened.

A total of 27 people, including four children, were taken to hospitals across the city.

Another 20 were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Two people were seriously injured, one of whom is a child.

"We believe this to be an isolated incident and are not currently looking for anyone else. The incident is not being treated as terrorism," the Merseyside Police said.

"It just wasn't stopping"

A BBC reporter at the scene described the chaos and confusion, saying he first noticed an ambulance and thought "someone had fallen ill".

He only later saw the car and a crowd of people hitting and shaking it.

Another witness told the media that when he saw the car coming through the crowd towards him and his family, he grabbed his daughter and jumped out of the way.

"It just wasn't stopping", he said.

In videos circulating on social media, people could be seen thrown into the air as the car rammed into the crowd.

"A very dark shadow"

Local police received a call for assistance just after 6pm and the man was detained at the scene.

A "very dark shadow" has been cast over what should have been a joyous day, said Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson.

British prime minister Keir Starmer has called the incident "appalling", adding that his thoughts are with the victims.

"Everyone, especially children, should be able to celebrate their heroes without this horror", he said.

Liverpool FC has also released a statement saying that its "thought and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident".

Top image via social media