The recent horror at the Liverpool football parade has left the city in shock.
Among those affected, the youngest victim is only nine years old, while the oldest is 78, with all the victims believed to be British.
This devastating incident unfolded during celebrations for the Premier League-winning Reds and has prompted a thorough police investigation.
Suspect in Custody as Police Continue Questioning
Authorities have arrested a 53-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder and drug driving.
The suspect is a local business owner and triathlete, married with three teenage children, living in a well-kept four-bedroom home on a quiet estate.
He was detained after a grey Ford Galaxy vehicle rammed into a crowd of fans celebrating in Liverpool city centre.
Despite the severity of the incident, seven victims remain hospitalized but are reportedly improving. The police are still questioning the suspect, and investigators have been granted extra time to continue their inquiry.
Neighbours Speak Out About the Suspect and Family
Neighbours describe the suspect as a “family man” with “well-behaved children” and recall him as a helpful and kind neighbour.
Some were stunned by the events, saying it seemed “completely out of character” and speculating that he may have panicked or suffered some sort of breakdown during the incident.
His wife reportedly only found out about what happened after seeing their car on the news.
Several locals shared that they know the family well and were shocked by the tragedy.
One neighbour said the suspect was “a fantastic guy” who had even helped them in the past, emphasizing how inexplicable the event feels to the community.
The Chaos Unfolded After the Trophy Parade
The incident happened just moments after Liverpool’s team paraded their trophy along the city’s famous waterfront near the Royal Liver building.
Thousands of fans were making their way home or heading to local bars to continue the celebrations when the Ford Galaxy tailgated an ambulance and broke through a roadblock.
Police confirmed that a flat-bed truck, initially blocking the road, had been moved by contractors to allow emergency vehicles through.
Shocking videos circulating online show fans desperately banging on the windows of the car before it sped off, striking several people and leaving some trapped beneath the vehicle.
Witnesses and Victims Share Their Stories
Among those injured is Daniel Eveson, whose five-month-old son’s buggy was dragged 15 feet during the chaos.
He described the survival of his family as “nothing short of a miracle” and emotionally referred to his son as “Super Ted.”
His fiancée, who was also injured, is currently recovering.
Daniel recounted how he tried to stop the car by holding onto the pram and even placing his hands on the bonnet as the vehicle moved.
Tragically, his fiancée was thrown onto the bonnet and then fell under the car.
Police Continue to Investigate and Reassure the Public
Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson of Merseyside Police confirmed that the number of hospitalized victims is decreasing as they recover.
She assured the public that detectives are making significant progress in understanding exactly what led to the tragedy.
The police emphasized that robust traffic management was in place during the parade, with Water Street closed as part of a rolling roadblock to protect fans.
They also confirmed the incident is not being treated as terrorism.
Debates on Transparency and Suspect Information
The quick disclosure of the suspect’s ethnicity—a white British man from Liverpool—has sparked discussion about police transparency.
The head of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, stated that police forces may need to release suspect information earlier in the future, even if it risks emboldening racist attitudes.
Sir Mark stressed the importance of transparency and confronting racism head-on, saying avoiding the truth is difficult when information is already circulating publicly.