Driver in Liverpool parade crash arrested on suspicion of attempted murder
A 53-year-old British man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after officials say he drove a van into a crowd of soccer fans in Liverpool, injuring dozens of people and turning a joyous event into a scene of horror.
The driver, who has not been identified, is also being held on suspicion of multiple dangerous driving offenses, including driving while on drugs, Merseyside Police Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill said. The incident May 26 is not being investigated as an act of terrorism and authorities say they believe the man acted alone.
Police believe the driver gained access to the parade route by following an ambulance that was let through a roadblock as it responded to a report of a possible heart attack. Soon after, the van rammed through the sea of parade-goers.
Fifty people received medical treatment following the crash, Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said at a news conference. As of May 27, 11 remain in hospital for further treatment.
"They are all in a stable condition and I am pleased to say that they appear to be recovering well," Sims said.
How did the crash happen?
Hundreds of thousands of people had descended on the parade route to see the Liverpool team and its staff travel through the city center on an open-top bus with the Premier League trophy.
Videos posted online show a gray minivan plowing into the dense crowd, sending people flying into the air and dragging others under the vehicle. When the van came to a stop, the crowd charged at the driver and began smashing the windows before police intervened.
Within hours of the incident, officials said they arrested the driver of the vehicle, a 53-year-old British man from the Liverpool area.
How did the van get on the parade route?
Sims said at a news conference that police worked with event organizers and key partner agencies in the months ahead of the potential parade. Officials designed a "robust traffic management plan," which was in place on the day of the crash, Sims said.
Police believe the driver was able to infiltrate the roadblock by following an ambulance that was attending to a person suffering a potential heart attack.
"There was no intelligence to suggest an incident of this nature would take place," Sims said.
"An extensive investigation into the precise circumstances of the incident is ongoing," she said. "We continue to ask people not to speculate on the circumstances of the incident."
Liverpool crash is the world's latest vehicle ramming incident
The crash in Liverpool is the most recent car ramming incident to leave people injured and strike terror into the hearts of those attending joyous festivals and holiday celebrations.
In April, a 30-year-old man was arrested after police say he drove an Audi down a closed festival street in Vancouver, Canada, injuring over 30 people.
On New Year's Day, a Texas man drove around a barricade and into a crowd of revelers in New Orleans' French Quarter, killing 15 people and injuring dozens of others. The man, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, was killed in a firefight with police.
In December, at least five people were killed and more than 200 injured when a car rammed into a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany.
Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas and Michael Loria; Reuters