The tragic incident at the Liverpool FC title parade where a car was driven at speed through crowds of people is not currently being treated as ‘terrorism’, police have confirmed.
Hundreds of thousands of fans all lined the streets of Liverpool yesterday as the Merseyside team took to open-top buses and paraded their newly-claimed Premier league title trophy through the city centre, soaking up all the well-deserved praise and admiration by those who had been with them every step of title race throughout the season.
But as, as the players and fans enjoyed their moment of celebrations, reports came in and shocking videos began to surface on social media of a car driving through the crowds at speed, and knocking down several pedestrians in the process.
It has now been confirmed by Merseyside Police that emergency services were contacted just after 6pm yesterday (Monday 26 May) following reports that a car had been in collision with a number of pedestrians on Water Street, and a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area was detained at the scene and subsequently arrested.
Police are not treating the incident at the Liverpool FC parade where a car ploughed into crowds as ‘terrorism’ / Credit: Liverpool FC (via Facebook)
In the immediate aftermath of the shocking incident, police urged the public not to ‘speculate on the circumstances’ surrounding it, as extensive enquiries and investigations are currently ongoing to establish this.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims later issued a formal statement addressing the ongoing situation as it unfolded.
Her statement reads in full: “Firstly, my thoughts are with all those injured in the horrific incident, their families and friends, and all those affected by the terrible tragedy that has taken place. I want to thank all the emergency services, partner agencies, and members of the public who came to the assistance of the injured following the shocking events.
“This had been a joyous day in Liverpool with hundreds of thousands of people lining the streets to celebrate Liverpool Football Club’s victory parade, but sadly at just after 6pm this evening, as the parade was drawing to a close, we received reports that a car had been in collision with a number of pedestrians on Water Street in Liverpool city centre.
“A number of people have been injured and were taken to hospital. In addition, a large number of people of all ages were treated at the scene but did not require hospital treatment.“
Specialist officers have been put in place to support the injured and their families.
“Our emergency services colleagues from the North West Ambulance Service and Mersey Fire and Rescue Service also attended the scene and will be able to provide further updates.
“The car stopped at the scene and a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area was arrested. We believe him to be the driver of the vehicle. Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision.
“It is vital that people do not speculate or spread misinformation on social media.
“I know that people will understandably be concerned by what has happened tonight but what I can tell you is that we believe this to be an isolated incident and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it. The incident is not currently being treated as terrorism.”
Leeds Bradford Airport is set for a standstill as almost 130 workers are set to take industrial action over pay.
If you're planning on catching a flight from Leeds Bradford Airport, then you may want to double check the date.
The Unite members planning on going on strike are a mixture of air traffic control workers, customer experience staff, security staff and cleaners.
The workers involved in the dispute have recently come out of a four-year pay deal, with some of the departments having fallen behind other airports in equivalent roles.
Pay talks have been happening since December 2025, with the airport's formal offer not going far enough to address the lack of pay parity.
Strikes will take place from 03:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for hourly paid staff and from 06:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for air traffic control workers.
Strike will mean the entire airport will shut down.
Since the announcement, Leeds Bradford Airport have issued a statement: "Leeds Bradford Airport acknowledges the proposed industrial action due to take place between 16-18 October involving a group of operational colleagues.
"We respect the right of employees to participate in lawful industrial action. However, we are disappointed by this and do not believe strike action is the right way to resolve the issues still under discussion.
"The airport has made what we believe is a fair and responsible offer that is significantly above inflation and reflects both current economic conditions and the need to ensure the long-term sustainability of the business.
"Our priority now is to minimise disruption for customers, many of whom have worked hard and saved for important holidays, family visits and business travel. At this stage we anticipate running near-normal operations during the period.
"Leeds Bradford Airport plays a vital role in connecting Yorkshire to the world. Industrial action has the potential to cause inconvenience for thousands of customers and local businesses who rely on those connections.
"We remain committed to constructive dialogue with Unite and would welcome continued discussions aimed at reaching a resolution. Our focus remains on serving Yorkshire, supporting our colleagues and maintaining safe airport operations."
Two Leeds motorways named in the UK’s top 10 ‘most challenging’
Emily Sergeant
Two motorways in and around Leeds have been named the ‘most challenging’ in the UK.
As part of MoneySuperMarket’s new Great British Motorway Report, new research has found that one in three UK motorists find motorway driving ‘stressful’ – despite more than 70 billion miles being travelled on Britain’s motorways each year.
From delays and congestion to high traffic levels, there are a number of factors that can contribute to driver stress levels.
But are some motorways more challenging for drivers than others? According to the data, yes. And two of the top 10 worst motorways in the UK are in and around Leeds.
Three Manchester motorways have been named in the UK’s top 10 ‘most challenging’ / Credit: pxfuel
To find out which are the most challenging, MoneySuperMarket analysed everything from collision rates and roadworks, to lane closures and driver feedback in order to reveal the top 10.
Leeds is home to three of the UK’s top 10 most challenging motorways – the M62, and the M621.
The M60, M25, and the M11 ranked as the UK’s most challenging motorways, with lengthy delays and a high number of incidents affecting their scores.
“If you’re feeling anxious, allow extra time for your journey so you don’t feel pressured to rush or make last-minute decisions,” commented Alicia Hempsted at MoneySuperMarket.
“Plan your route in advance, including where you’ll stop for breaks, as regular rest stops can help you stay alert and reduce stress on longer trips, and if you’re travelling alone, consider sharing your route with someone you trust if it helps you feel more comfortable.”
Emily Sergeant -
27th May 2025 
