UK police say Liverpool collision is isolated incident, not believed to be terror-related
Twenty-seven people were taken to hospital and two suffered serious injuries, says North West Ambulance Service
LONDON
UK police confirmed Monday that a serious incident on Water Street in Liverpool in which a car drove into a crowd of pedestrians is not being treated as terrorism-related.
At a news conference, Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims of Merseyside Police described the event as "horrific" and said her thoughts are with all those injured.
The incident happened while a group of Liverpool fans were celebrating the club's Premier League title win in Liverpool city center on Monday evening.
"A 53-year-old man is believed to be the driver of the vehicle," Sims said, adding that an investigation into the circumstances leading up to the incident is currently under way.
David Kitchen of the North West Ambulance Service said the emergency services were "horrified and saddened" by what had occurred.
He confirmed that 27 people were transported to hospitals across Liverpool and two suffered serious injuries, including a child.
"Clinicians, paramedics and other medical teams were quick to support and respond to what happened on Water Street," Kitchen said.
He also noted that a paramedic on a bike had been struck but was not seriously injured.
Chief Fire Officer of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Nick Searle described the scene on arrival as having "numerous people injured" and revealed that four people had been trapped under the vehicle.
"Three adults and one child were removed from beneath the vehicle and passed to the ambulance," Searle said.
Observers noted that the prompt release of the suspect’s identity may reflect lessons learned from previous events.
Last summer, a stabbing attack at a children's dance class in Southport, UK resulted in the deaths of three young girls. Hours later, violent protests and riots erupted in the town and spread to other areas, fueled by online misinformation and far-right sentiment.
Initial claims falsely linked the killings to a Muslim migrant, sparking anger and protests across the country. Axel Rudakubana, 18, who was born in Cardiff, has been charged in connection with the killings.
That delay created a vacuum that was quickly filled by far-right accounts spreading disinformation online.
This time, it appears police were determined to avoid a repeat of such chaos by addressing the public with clarity and speed.
