Liverpool Fc Parade What Happened Bbc Newsround

A victory parade celebrating Liverpool FC’s Premier League title win turned into a scene of horror after a car ploughed into a crowd in the city centre. Thousands of football fans had spent the day gathering in Liverpool, where celebrations for the champions were marked with an open-top bus parade along a 10-mile route. But just after 6pm, chaos and terror broke out as a car collided with supporters lining the streets, injuring more than 100 people, including children.

Paul Doyle, a 53-year-old businessman and former solider, appeared in court on 30 May after being charged in connection with the incident. Here The i Paper takes a look at what we know so far. What happened? Just after 6pm, as the parade was ending, police received reports that a car had collided with crowds on Water Street. Emergency responders were on the scene within seconds, Merseyside Police said. According to eyewitnesses, it happened around 10 minutes after the bus carrying the football team had passed through.

Some who made narrow escapes have described the terrifying moment the car came towards them. Mike Maddra told the PA news agency the “car turned left, mounted pavement, come towards us and runs towards the buildings”. Chelsea Yuen told Sky News she and her friends how they were caught up in the chaos. “We were literally like sardines walking up the street, and then we heard beeping and screaming and when we looked up, there was a black, people carrier, driving straight towards us,” she said.

Police officers surrounded the car as witnesses attempted to stop the driver. Who is the suspect? Paul Doyle, a 53-year-old from West Derby, Liverpool, was arrested at the scene. He was later charged with seven offences, relating to six victims, including two children aged 11 and 17.

The charges in full are: - Two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm - One count of dangerous driving - Two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm - Two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm Doyle appeared at both Liverpool Magistrates’ Court and Liverpool Crown Court on 30 May. The prosecution alleged that he “deliberately” drove his car into the crowd, using his vehicle “as a weapon”.

He will next appear in court on 14 August for a plea hearing. Doyle, an IT specialist and father of three children, lives with his wife, a teacher, in a four-bed detached suburban property. According to his LinkedIn profile, he served a four-year stint as a Royal Marine commando between 1990 and 1994, starting when he was 18 years old. After leaving the armed forces, Doyle went to the University of Liverpool earning a degree in Psychology and Maths before forging a career in IT services.

From 2017 to 2023, he claims to have worked at investment firm Rathbones Group, as a group cyber security manager. The company is a leading provider of individual wealth management, and asset management, providing services to private clients, charities and trustees. According to Doyle’s profile, he currently works as an “acting head of cyber” and promotes himself as an “ethical hacker” available for hire. In 2017, Doyle launched a business selling headwear that he appears to have designed himself.

It was dissolved in 2020, but an Instagram account for the business remains active, which shows what appears to be photos of Doyle snowboarding in the Alps as recently as March this year. Social media profiles show he had a keen interest in travelling and fitness, having visited countries across the world, including Australia, India and Fiji. He appears to have recently travelled to Dubai on a luxury holiday with family, including taking a helicopter tour. How many people have been injured?

The number of people reported injured has risen to 109, according to a police update on 2 June. Four people remained in hospital a week on from the incident. The week before, police said 79 people had been injured. The fire service said they rescued four people trapped under the car, including a child. Some patients took themselves to local hospitals, North West Ambulance Service said. A local Italian restaurant – Riva – was used as a makeshift triage centre, the Liverpool Echo reported.

“People inside Riva are being treated by paramedics. Some have bandages around their heads and limbs,” Paddy Edrich, a journalist for the paper, said in a post on X. “Staff in the restaurant appear to be providing fluids to those being treated and the emergency services.” One man who was struck by the vehicle and hospitalised told the BBC he was in “absolute agony”. Afterwards, there was a heavy emergency services presence afterwards in the littered street, with police cars, ambulances and fire engines all at the scene.

What have police said about the incident? Soon after the crash, Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said the “horrific incident” was not being treated as terrorism. She also urged the public to share any relevant information with Merseyside Police, and to refrain from circulating distressing footage on social media. Issuing an update on 2 June, Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson suggested that the number of people injured could continue to rise.

She said: “This is a complex and constantly evolving investigation and we are still working through and assessing those reporting being injured and our inquiries remain ongoing. “I would like to thank everyone who has been in touch with us so far to give witness accounts or supply information or video footage. The response so far has been of great assistance in progressing the investigation.

“We have had more than 500 submissions to the Major Incident Police Portal (MIPP) and a team of detectives are currently working through the information provided. “I would continue to appeal for anyone who has information and is yet to come forward to please get in touch as a matter of urgency.” How did the car gain access to Water Street? Water Street was closed to vehicles, meaning many were shocked by the presence of the car among the crowds.

It is believed the driver of the car which collided with members of the crowd was able to gain access to Water Street by following an ambulance after the roadblock was temporarily lifted so the ambulance crew could attend to a suspected heart attack.

Speaking soon after the crash, Ms Sims said: “There was no intelligence to suggest an incident of this nature would take place.” Speaking to reporters at the scene, Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram said questions about how the car was able to enter the road were “legitimate” but said police have to be given the time to conclude their investigations. He said: “Water Street was not a route where vehicles were supposed to be using it, it was blocked off.

“At this end of it, which is the direction that it was coming in, towards The Strand, there were literally hundreds of thousands of people here, so no vehicle would have got through anyway.” What did Liverpool FC say? Liverpool FC chief executive Billy Hogan thanked the club’s supporters who “helped each other” and extended “heartfelt thoughts” to all those affected.

Hogan added: “This weekend was one of celebration, emotion and joy spread across the city in our entire fanbase, and it ended in unimaginable scenes of distress with this appalling incident.” He also paid tribute to the emergency services and partner agencies who dealt with the incident, and hospital staff across the city treating the injured.

In a statement published on Monday night, Liverpool FC said it is in direct contact with Merseyside Police about the collision and will continue to offer its full support to the emergency services and local authorities. The club also said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident.” Club captain Virgil van Dijk said he was “praying for a speedy recovery” for all those injured in the crash following the title parade.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who attended the parade, said he was “shocked and devastated”. Why did police release details about the suspect’s ethnicity? Hours after the incident, police revealed the suspect’s ethnicity, announcing they had arrested a white British man. Dal Babu, a former chief superintendent in London’s Metropolitan Police, told the BBC that the move was an effort to cool social media speculation.

Police forces in England and Wales typically only release the age, gender and place of residence of the person, as well as where and when they were arrested and the nature of the alleged offence in the first instance. It comes after the force was criticised in the wake of the Southport murders last July for not releasing more information after false rumours that the killer was a Muslim asylum seeker circulated online, and widespread rioting saw some target mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers.

Babu told BBC Radio 5 Live: “It was Merseyside Police who didn’t give that information with the Southport horrific murders of those three girls, and the rumours were that it was an asylum seeker who arrived on a boat and it was a Muslim extremist, and that wasn’t the case.” Babu said he thought the decision to divulge such aspects about the suspect’s identity was made to “dampen down some of the speculation from the far-right”. How have leaders responded?

Sir Keir Starmer said he had spoken to Rotheram about the incident, adding: “Liverpool stands together and the whole country stands with Liverpool.” “The scenes in Liverpool are appalling — my thoughts are with all those injured or affected,” he said in a statement. He praised first responders for their “remarkable bravery” and said police and emergency workers were “supporting and caring for those injured in these terrible events”.

“Everyone, especially children, should be able to celebrate their heroes without this horror.” Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked police and called the incident “truly shocking and horrendous”. “Thinking of all those affected at this very difficult time. The police are investigating and I’m being kept updated on developments.” Ian Byrne, MP for Liverpool West Derby, said he was “absolutely heartbroken by the scenes in town, after what should have been the best of days.

“My love and thoughts are with all affected.” Kemi Badenoch has said it is “sickening to hear how many children are among the injured” and hailed the “extraordinary compassion” of people in Liverpool who have responded to help those in need. The Conservative leader posted on X on Tuesday morning: “It doesn’t matter if this is or isn’t classed as a terrorist incident, it’s still a heinous crime.

“Those who target joyful celebrations and our happiest moments, who care not for the welfare of little children are beneath contempt.” The King praised “the strength of community” and said he and the Queen were “deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the terrible events”.

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