Police arrested a 53-year-old man after dozens of people were injured when a car ploughed into a crowd of Liverpool fans on Monday.
Merseyside Police announced on Wednesday that they have been given until tomorrow to question the driver who allegedly crashed into onlookers at the victory parade.
According to reports, the 53-year-old is a business owner and father of three who lives in a detached suburban home. It also reported that he has competed in triathlons and climbed Kilimanjaro.
One neighbour of the suspect told The i Paper: “He seemed a nice man, very outgoing.”
“They just seemed like a normal family,” another neighbour said.
“I’m shocked, no one’s any bother round here.”
The force said the number of injured had climbed to at least 79 people, with seven remaining in hospital in a stable condition.
The supporters were celebrating their team’s Premier League title victory when a Ford Galaxy people-carrier struck a crowd massed in the city centre.
Four children were among those injured in the incident in Water Street just after 6pm.
An angry crowd surrounds the people-carrier in Liverpool city centre (Photo: BBC)The man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs, with police now granted more time to interview him.
Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said: “I’m pleased to say that the number of people in hospital is reducing as they continue to recover from the awful incident.
“We continue to support those still receiving treatment and as part of our ongoing enquiries we are identifying more people who were injured.
“Extensive CCTV enquiries are being carried out across the city to establish the movements of the car, a Ford Galaxy, before the incident took place.”
Shortly after the incident, Merseyside Police moved quickly to release the detail that the 53-year-old man arrested was white and British.
The decision to reveal his nationality and ethnicity followed criticism of the force that it was too slow to publish information last year after false online rumours spread that the Southport attacker was Muslim.
Initially, police said the man arrested on Monday was from the Liverpool area, and that the car had stopped at the scene.
It was later confirmed he was from the West Derby area of the city. Police believe he was the driver of the car.
He was dragged from the vehicle
Video footage shows the car being revved up before it veered into the crowd. One clip shows the driver holding down the horn before he speeds off into the pedestrians. At one point, a supporter opens the door as an angry group of fans surround the vehicle.
Police officers are seen pulling the driver from the car after the crowd surged towards the vehicle (Photo: BBC)Footage shows the car beeping at fans on Dale Street before reversing and hitting one supporter.
After it drives down Dale Street, fans are seen punching and kicking the car and smashing the rear windscreen. The car then drives into Water Street and is surrounded by fans before accelerating onto the pavement, hitting dozens of supporters.
Fans swarm around the vehicle, and footage shows the suspected driver being dragged from the car by police.
Car ‘tailgated ambulance’
Police have said they believe the Ford Galaxy swerved around a roadblock by tailgating an ambulance that was responding to an emergency call over a person suffering a heart attack.
One Liverpool fan described how he “locked eyes” with the driver and “pleaded for him to stop” moments before the car ploughed into him.
Jack Trotter, 22, from Newtownards, County Down, found himself “face to face” with the vehicle. “He had slowed down. And then I put my hands up and pleaded for him to stop, and he wasn’t stopping,” he told PA news agency.
Merseyside Police have confirmed that the incident is not being treated as terrorism.
A total of 50 people required hospital treatment, with 11 still in hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
On Wednesday, Merseyside Police said: “We can confirm that seven people remain in hospital in a stable condition following the incident on Water Street on Monday May 26.
A fan is assisted by firefighters after the incident (Photo: Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith)“As part of the ongoing investigation, we have also been able to identify more people who were injured, with 79 in total who we are now speaking with.
“A 53-year-old man from West Derby, who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving offences and driving while unfit through drugs, remains in police custody.
“The investigation team have today been granted further time to continue questioning him in police custody, which will remain in place until tomorrow.”
Fans have criticised crowd control
Supporters have criticised a lack of crowd marshalling and say cars were allowed to drive too close to the crowd despite thousands of fans packing the streets.
Sian, 43, who had travelled from London , told The Times the situation was “frankly insane”.
She criticised what she said was the lack of a one-way pedestrian system or proper marshalling, claiming it added to chaos as fans appeared to be moving in all directions, while being hemmed in by barricades.
Sian said some spectators tried to drive away after the parade had passed. “There were cars trying to get by but there were thousands of people, I just didn’t understand why the street was open to cars, and that people could park on streets in the centre, when it was so busy,” she said.
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