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John Bishop says he is ‘heartbroken’ after 47 people were injured when an unnamed driver ploughed into crowds of Liverpool fans during the club’s Premier League trophy parade on Monday.
Thousands of devoted fans had flocked into Liverpool to watch Arne Slot‘s side make their way through the city on an open-top bus after winning their second Premier League trophy.
But the joyful scenes were marred when an unnamed driver, understood to be a white male, accelerated into the crowd after pulling out of a local pub.
A total of 27 people were taken to hospital following the horrific incident, with four still seriously injured – including a child who was one of four people still trapped under car when firefighters arrived. The other casualties were treated at the scene
Bishop, 58, who was attending the city parade with his father Edward, has since paid tribute to the victims in a social media post shared with Instagram followers on Tuesday morning.
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John Bishop says he is ‘heartbroken’ after 47 people were injured when an unnamed driver ploughed into crowds of Liverpool fans during the club’s Premier League trophy parade
Bishop had been attending the city parade with his father Edward and previously shared a photo of the pair as they watched it unfold
‘I was at the parade today with my dad and like everyone else I am shocked and heartbroken about the events at the end of the Liverpool parade,’ he wrote.
‘My heart goes out to all those affected. Our anthem could not be more appropriate. You’ll never walk alone.’
Dramatic footage captured just before the chaos unfolded shows the man’s Ford Galaxy being surrounded and attacked by angry fans as he attempts to reverse out of the packed street.
Supporters – alarmed by the car’s erratic movements in the dense crowd – can be seen hitting the windows and kicking the tires.
One man even rips off the rear windscreen wiper and appears to try smashing a window before jumping out of the way to avoid being run over before the car then sped off down the road.
Authorities have confirmed the incident is not being treated as terrorism and that the man in custody, a white British male from Liverpool, is believed to have been the driver of the vehicle.
The shocking collision occurred around 6pm on Monday on Water Street, which was not on a list of roads to be closed for the parade to celebrate Liverpool’s 20th league title.
Witnesses reported the car was travelling at 30mph and had been sounding its horn as it edged through the dense crowd – prompting angry fans to ask ‘what are you doing?’ before it suddenly accelerated, swerved, and mounted the pavement.
They described how ‘all hell broke’ loose and people ‘were flying in all directions’ as car ploughed into the tightly packed crowd for 200 yards.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims of Merseyside Police said: ‘My thoughts are with all those injured in tonight’s horrific incident.
‘This had been a joyous day in Liverpool with hundreds of thousands of people lining the streets to celebrate Liverpool Football Club’s parade.
‘Sadly, at 6pm as the parade was drawing to a close, we received reports that a car was in collision with a number of pedestrians in Water Street.’
Sims stressed the event is being treated as an isolated incident, and police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the crash.
‘We believe this to be an isolated incident and are not currently looking for anyone else. The incident is not being treated as terrorism,’ she said.
The police chief urged the public not to speculate or spread misinformation online, and thanked emergency workers and bystanders who rushed to help the injured.
Liverpool City Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said this morning there are ‘still four people who are very, very ill in hospital’.
Asked whether that reflects an increase on the previous number of seriously injured – given by authorities last night as one adult and one child – he told BBC 5 Live: ‘No, not directly, but of course we’re in liaison with the police and with the ambulance services.’
