In a shocking turn of events during the Liverpool parade, eyewitnesses reported a harrowing incident involving a dark blue car that sped through a crowd, narrowly missing bystanders. BBC reporter Matt Cole, who was present with his family, described the moment the vehicle surged into the crowd, stating that it missed them by mere inches. Just moments before, they had been enjoying the festive atmosphere, watching fireworks as the Liverpool bus passed by on the Strand.
Cole recounted that an ambulance had just maneuvered through the dense crowd on Water Street when panic erupted. "There were screams ahead of us, and suddenly this dark blue car just came through the crowd. It wasn’t stopping," he said, emphasizing the chaos that ensued. Cole quickly grabbed his daughter and jumped out of the way, noting the car's alarming speed, which he estimated to be over 20 mph, possibly reaching 30 mph. As the vehicle sped past, it was being pursued by a group of men attempting to bang on the sides and throw objects at it, further illustrating the tense atmosphere. He observed that the rear windshield of the car had been completely smashed in.
Having relocated to safety down a side street, Cole witnessed a rapid influx of emergency responders. "I saw police running from all directions, ambulances, police vans... more and more ambulances, more and more police vans," he reported. At one point, an entire squad of armed police cars arrived, with officers emerging equipped with rifles and medical packs, rushing towards the scene of the incident. Cole described his initial thought that the driver simply wanted to push through the crowd out of impatience, but the unsettling speed and the cries of terrified onlookers quickly altered his perception of the situation, igniting a surge of adrenaline.
Another eyewitness, Harry Rashid, 48, from Solihull, was enjoying the parade with his wife and two young daughters when the vehicle struck. "It was extremely fast. Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people being knocked off the bonnet of the car," he recounted, visibly shaken. Rashid described the aftermath, mentioning people lying on the ground, some unconscious, which he deemed "horrendous." His account highlights the severity of the incident and the immediate chaos that unfolded.
Yet another witness, Mike Maddra, was walking alongside friends when he saw the car accelerating towards pedestrians. "The car turned left, mounted the pavement, came towards us, and ran towards the buildings," he explained. Maddra believed he witnessed two individuals being struck and remarked that the behavior seemed deliberate. "It has just ruined the day really," he lamented, encapsulating the collective sense of horror that engulfed the crowd.
The incident has left many shaken, raising questions about public safety during large gatherings. As investigations continue, the community remains in shock, grappling with the traumatic events that unfolded during what should have been a celebratory occasion.
