Nine-year-old among those injured in Liverpool parade

Ewan Gawne

BBC News, Liverpool

A nine-year-old was the youngest victim injured when a car was driven into crowds at Liverpool’s victory parade, police said, as they continue to question a suspect.

Merseyside Police confirmed the age of the victims hurt in the incident on Water Street on Monday ranged from nine to 78.

The force has until Thursday evening to question a 53-year-old man, from West Derby, Liverpool, who is in custody after he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and drug driving.

On Wednesday, police said seven people remained in hospital in a stable condition, while 79 people in total had been injured when the car crashed into Liverpool fans.

The car had also struck the pram of a baby boy who was being pushed by his parents, but the child was not hurt, despite the pram spinning metres down the street after it was hit.

The drug the 53-year-old was suspected of taking has not been revealed by police.

A force spokesman said: “We wouldn’t go into this detail at this stage of the investigation.”

Police believe the car, which struck pedestrians, followed an ambulance attending to someone suffering a heart attack after a road block was temporarily lifted.

A force spokesman said there was a partial closure in place on Dale Street – which leads into Water Street – between North John Street and Exchange Street.

In the aftermath of the incident, people from across the city came together to offer support to those stranded in the aftermath.

John and Kerri Davies, owners of J&K Travel, immediately headed to the scene with minibuses to offer transport, while Liverpool university student Oli Fountain offered his own flat as a place for those “stuck in town to crash on”.

An appeal for funds to help those affected has raised more than £30,000, including £10,000 from ex-Liverpool centreback Jamie Carragher.

Rae Brooke, from the Community Foundation for Merseyside, a partnership with local authority and voluntary services which set up the fund, said people wanted to do something to help.

She said “We know just how generous people are in the Liverpool area”.