47 people have been injured, two of them seriously, after a car drove into a crowd of people in Liverpool during a parade to celebrate Liverpool FC's Premier League title win.
Thousands of football fans turned out for what was supposed to be a joyous occasion where a bus carrying the team that topped the league this season would be driven through the city centre.
However, yesterday evening (26 May) during the festivities, a car was driven into crowds of people on Water Street, leaving many injured.
What follows is a timeline of events as the day turned from celebration to catastrophe:
2:30pm - The title parade begins
The bus carrying the Premier League champions departed from Allerton Maze at around this time and set off on its planned route around the city centre.
Liverpool players hoisted the trophy aloft for massed crowds of their fans to see and cheer.
Flares billowed red smoke and red confetti was launched into the sky to celebrate Liverpool FC making it 20 Premier League titles in an impressive debut campaign for new manager Arne Slot.
Thousands of cheering fans lined the streets to celebrate the victory parade and the mood in the city was celebratory.
4pm - Merseyside Police message to fans
As the parade bus continued around Liverpool, Merseyside Police sent a message out to celebrating football fans reminding them to be safe and letting them know there would be plenty of opportunities to see the team.
They said: "Please keep yourselves and other people safe during today's #LFC Victory Parade by not climbing buildings, structures, scaffolding or street furniture.
"The parade route covers 10 miles and there are plenty of safe vantage points to see the LFC bus. Hope everyone has a great day!"
Around 6pm - A car drives through the crowds on Water Street
At some time around 6pm, a car was driven into crowds of Liverpool fans on Water Street, with authorities later saying that at least 47 people had been injured, four of them children.
Eyewitnesses said they had to 'jump out of the way' of the car, while spectator Chelsea Yuen told Sky News that people were packed 'like sardines' on the street when the car was driven towards them.
She said: "Me and my friend jumped out the way and pulled her little girl out the way. I'm just in shock. Like we can't stop shaking."
Another witness, Natasha Rinaldi, was watching the parade from a window and said she 'could just hear screams and screams' after seeing the car had 'run over people'.
Harry Rashid had attended the parade with his wife and two children, and said that the car being driven into people 'happened about 10 feet away from us'.
He said: "We were just in a crowd and we had no control over where we would be, because it was a very narrow street. The vehicle came to our right. It emerged from just right next to an ambulance, which was parked up. This grey people carrier just pulled up from the right and just rammed into all the people at the side of us.
“It was travelling south, down Water Street, straight towards this strand, which is where the docks are. It was extremely fast. Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car."
Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to send it to Merseyside Police by calling 101 quoting log 784. Information can also be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
6:07pm - Emergency services alerted
Police said they were contacted 'just after 18:00', and other emergency services were brought into the response at around the same time.
Nick Searle, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service chief fire officer, said that they were alerted to the incident at this time and sent three fire engines to Water Street to help the police and ambulance services.
He explained that when they arrived they helped rescue four people, one of them a child, from beneath a car.
He said: "We immediately mobilised three fire engines to Water Street and were in attendance in four minutes. On arrival, the crews were met with numerous injured… and four persons trapped under a vehicle.
"Our crews rapidly lifted the vehicle, removed three adults and one child from beneath and passed them to our ambulance service colleagues.
"We then worked with emergency service partners to ensure casualties received medical treatment and transport to hospital as quickly as possible."
7pm - 53-year-old man arrested
Around an hour after the crash, Merseyside Police announced that a man had been detained at the scene following the car being driven into a number of people.
Police would later confirm that the man arrested was 'a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area', and officers asked people 'not to speculate' on the incident on Water Street.
The man arrested is believed by police to have been the driver of the car.
7:30pm - Keir Starmer's statement
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer gave a statement on the horrific crash, describing the matter as 'appalling' and said his thoughts were with everyone affected.
The PM said: "The scenes in Liverpool are appalling - my thoughts are with all those injured or affected. I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident.
"I'm being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate."
Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, later added: "Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response to the truly shocking and horrendous scenes in Liverpool this evening.
"Thinking of all those affected at this very difficult time. The police are investigating and I’m being kept updated on developments."
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8pm - Liverpool FC offer their support
The football club also offered their own statement where they said they were working with Merseyside Police, offered 'thoughts and prayers' to everyone affected and promised to give the emergency services their full support.
They said: "We are in direct contact with Merseyside Police regarding the incident on Water Street which happened towards the end of the trophy parade earlier this evening.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident.
"We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident."
The BBC reports that Liverpool FC has postponed a number of events for club staff to celebrate the Premier League title win, telling employees they 'will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities'.
The football club also encouraged staff 'to come together at this time to support each other' at this time.
10:55pm - Merseyside Police issue an update
At a press conference late last night Merseyside Police said it had been a 'horrific' incident, adding that it was not currently being treated as terrorism.
They confirmed that they were investigating the events leading up to the car being driven into a crowd of people in the city centre, including how the car was able to get onto a street that had been pedestrianised to allow Liverpool FC's title parade to take place.
The North West Ambulance Service added that 20 people had been treated at the scene and another 27 taken to hospital as a result of the crash, with two of those taken to hospital suffering 'serious injuries'.
One of those seriously injured was a child.
Liam Robinson of Liverpool City Council asked people not to share footage of the crash on social media, and instead to provide the police with any video evidence they might have which could be useful.
7:30am - Four people still in hospital
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live this morning (27 May), Liverpool's mayor Steve Rotherham has said there are 'still four people who are very, very ill in hospital'.
"We are hoping of course that they pull through," he told the BBC, explaining that his comments did not represent an increase on the two people authorities had said were seriously injured.
He added that he expects to receive further updates on the situation this morning as the police and ambulance services have been holding important meetings.
Featured Image Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
Joe Harker