Liverpool parade suspect questioned over attempted murder, drug-driving
Police say they have arrested a 53-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs after dozens of people were hit by a vehicle at Liverpool’s Premier League victory parade.
In an update on Tuesday, police said they also believe the driver of the Ford Galaxy car involved in the incident was able to follow an ambulance into a sealed-off part of the city before ploughing into the crowd of celebrating fans.
The suspect, from the West Derby area of Liverpool, remains in custody and is being interviewed by officers.
The number of people confirmed injured in the incident has risen to 65. 11 people remain in hospital and all are in a stable condition and appear to be recovering well, Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said.
She told a press conference: “It is believed the driver of the Ford Galaxy car involved in this incident was able to follow an ambulance onto Water Street after the road block was temporarily lifted so that the ambulance crew could attend to a member of the public who was having a suspected heart attack.
Authorities have been facing questions over how the suspect made his way into the closed-off city centre before veering into pedestrians during the celebrations.
At least four children were among those njured when the Ford Galaxy appeared to accelerate into the fans on Water Street at around 6pm on Bank Holiday Monday, turning a day of joy in the city into one of horror.
Four people trapped under the grey people carrier, including a child, were rescued by firefighters.
The incident is not being treated as terrorism.
The city’s metro mayor Steve Rotheram said earlier on yesterday the “big question” was how the car ended up on the road despite being closed at the time.
The parade’s route stretched 10 miles from Allerton Maze to Liverpool City Centre and lasted around five hours.
As such a number of roads, including Water Street, were closed.
Sources told the Daily Mail there were bollards at the eastern end of the road, at the junction of Dale Street, but these were moved to allow an ambulance to pass through.
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