King Charles has said is “deeply shocked and saddened” by the terrible scenes during Liverpool’s Premier League title parade as police continued to quiz a 53-year-old man after a car ploughed into fans leaving dozens injured.
About 50 people - including four children - were injured when the grey Ford Galaxy car mowed through a crowd of football supporters during the celebrations.
Four people are still “very, very ill in hospital”, the city's metro mayor said on Tuesday.
In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, the King said: “My wife and I were deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the terrible events that took place in Liverpool on Monday.
“It is truly devastating to see that what should have been a joyous celebration for many could end in such distressing circumstances.
“At this heartbreaking time for the people of Liverpool, I know that the strength of community spirit for which your city is renowned will be a comfort and support to those in need.
“Our prayers and deepest sympathy are with all those who have been affected, and my special gratitude goes out to the first responders, emergency services personnel and other individuals who rushed to the aid of the injured.”
Police are quizzing a suspect after the vehicle appeared to accelerate into the fans in the heart of the city centre on Monday evening, turning a day of joy for thousands of football fans in the city into one of horror.
Investigators are working to piece together how the vehicle ploughed into crowds packing the narrow street.
At least 47 people were injured after the people-carrier rammed dozens of fans just after 6pm.
Witnesses described hearing “pop, pop, pop” as people were knocked off the bonnet of the vehicle.
Firefighters rescued four people, including a child, who were trapped under the car.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday, Liverpool City Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said he was hopeful that those seriously injured “pull through very, very quickly”.
He told the broadcaster: “The actual incident in Water Street will live with those people for all the wrong reasons, and that's where we have to really focus our minds.
“There are still four people who are very, very ill in hospital and we are hoping of course that they pull through very, very quickly.”
Police cars, ambulances, fire engines, paramedics from St John Ambulance and an air ambulance scrambled to the scene of the incident on Water Street - as officers controlled bystanders who attempted to break into the suspect’s vehicle.
Medics treated 20 patients at the scene with minor injuries, according to David Kitchen, from North West Ambulance Service Trust.
A further 27 were taken to Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Arrowe Park Hospital and Aintree University Hospital.
Two of those hospitalised, including one child, suffered serious injuries,
Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said the “horrific incident” was not being treated as terrorism following the arrest of a 53-year-old man at the scene.
The force said the suspect was the driver of the car, white, British and from the Liverpool area.
Footage circulating online appeared to show the vehicle speed up as it veered into pedestrians on both sides of the crowded street.
Harry Rashid was at the parade with his wife and two daughters when he witnessed the vehicle travelling south.
“This grey people carrier just pulled up from the right and just rammed into all the people at the side of us,” he said.
“It was extremely fast. Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car.”
He described how those in attendance began trying to smash the car windows when the driver stalled, before he started moving again.
“My daughter started screaming and there were people on the ground. I saw people lying on the ground, people unconscious. It was horrendous.”
Witness Les Winsper, 55, told The Guardian how the incident unfolded in front of him.
He said: “People started banging on the (car) windows.
“Then they smashed the windows and he panicked and put his foot down.
“He then hit someone and that person has gone in the air and he's ploughed through the rest of them.
“I've never seen anything like it.”
Another witness, who was walking with a group of friends, said he saw a car “speeding up” and hitting pedestrians.
Mike Maddra told the PA news agency the “car turned left, mounted pavement, come towards us and runs towards the buildings”.
He said “we got out the way and it was speeding up”.
Mr Maddra said he thought he saw two people being hit and added, “it looked deliberate”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper are being kept updated about events in the city.
Sir Keir said he had spoken to the Mayor of Liverpool about the incident, adding: “Everyone, especially children, should be able to celebrate their heroes without this horror.
“The city has a long and proud history of coming together through difficult times.
“Liverpool stands together and the whole country stands with Liverpool.”
Merseyside Police said: “We were contacted at just after 6pm today (Monday, May 26) following reports a car had been in collision with a number of pedestrians on Water Street.
“The car stopped at the scene and a male has been detained.”
A later update added: “We can confirm the man arrested is a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area.
“Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said the videos being shared online were “appalling” and urged the public not to speculate.
YNWA. pic.twitter.com/pp5avLDO7c
— Sir Kenny Dalglish (@kennethdalglish) May 26, 2025
At a press conference on Monday night, Assistant Chief Constable Jennifer Sims said: “I know that people will understandably be concerned by what has happened tonight. We believe this to be an isolated incident and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it.”
She confirmed the incident is not currently being treated as terrorism, but the force is being supported by counter-terrorism police as detectives attempt to establish why the motorist hit locals.
In its response Liverpool FC said: “We are in direct contact with Merseyside Police regarding the incident on Water Street which happened towards the end of the trophy parade earlier this evening.”
Local rivals Everton joined in the tributes, saying: “Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by this serious incident in our city.”
Council leader Liam Robinson said the events that unfolded has “cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day”.
The parade was held on Bank Holiday Monday in celebration of Liverpool's second Premier League title win, with thousands of supporters in attendance.
The route stretched 10 miles from Allerton Maze to Liverpool City Centre and lasted around five hours.
As such a number of roads including Brunswick Street, Water Street and James Street were closed.
Liverpool players, including Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah, boarded an open-top bus that travelled through Liverpool, surrounded by flares, banners and a sea of red.
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