During Liverpool FC’s Premier League victory parade on 26 May 2025, a grey Ford Galaxy was driven into a crowd on Water Street, injuring 47 people, including four children. Twenty-seven were hospitalised, and four remain in serious condition. The driver, a 53-year-old white British man from Liverpool, was arrested at the scene. Police have confirmed it was not a terrorist attack.
Merseyside Police were praised for swiftly releasing the suspect’s ethnicity, a move aimed at countering misinformation and racially charged speculation. This decision marked a strategic shift toward transparency, especially after a 2024 Southport stabbing led to false assumptions and violence against minority communities due to delayed information.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the incident as “appalling” and praised emergency responders. Liverpool FC and other football clubs expressed support for the victims, while local leaders called for unity and resilience in the face of tragedy.
