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A 53-year-old man has been formally charged in connection with a horrifying incident that marred Liverpool’s Premier League title celebrations earlier this week. The car drove into a large crowd of fans gathered in the city centre on Monday, leaving dozens injured.
Paul Doyle, from West Derby, faces multiple serious charges including dangerous driving, grievous bodily harm with intent, and attempted grievous bodily harm. He is scheduled to appear before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Authorities reported that at least 79 individuals were hurt during the chaos on Water Street, two of whom—including a child—suffered severe injuries. Seven victims remain hospitalized in stable condition. Merseyside Police confirmed the ages of those injured ranged from nine to 78.
“The investigation is at an early stage. Prosecutors and police are continuing to work at pace to review a huge volume of evidence,” said Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire.
“This includes multiple pieces of video footage and numerous witness statements. It is important to ensure every victim gets the justice they deserve."
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims addressed the public at a press briefing, acknowledging the trauma caused by the incident.
“I fully understand how this incident has left us all shocked and saddened, and I know many will continue to have concerns and questions,” she said.
“Our detectives are working tirelessly, with diligence and professionalism, to seek the answer to all of those questions. When we are able to, we will provide further information.”
What began as a jubilant day for Liverpool FC fans celebrating the club’s 20th league title took a devastating turn when a car reportedly bypassed a roadblock by tailgating an ambulance en route to a cardiac arrest emergency. The vehicle then sped into the densely packed crowd.
Eyewitness footage captured the harrowing moment a person draped in a Liverpool flag was struck and thrown into the air, followed by scenes of panic as the car swerved through fans along the roadside. Police said there is no indication of terrorist involvement and believe the driver acted alone.
Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson urged the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions.
“An extensive investigation into the precise circumstances of the incident is ongoing and we continue to ask people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the incident and refrain from sharing distressing content online."
Local media have reported that Doyle is a former Royal Marine, a businessman, and father of three. He is facing seven charges, listed by police as:
- Two counts of unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm;
- Two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent;
- Two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent; and
- One count of dangerous driving.
“It is important to ensure that every victim gets the justice they deserve,” Hammond reiterated.
Assistant Chief Constable Sims emphasized that every aspect of the case was being thoroughly investigated. “We know that Monday's shocking scenes reverberated around the city of Liverpool and the entire country on what should have been a day of celebration for hundreds of thousand of Liverpool FC supporters."
While the precise number of victims linked to each count remains unclear, officials did not take questions during the briefings. Social media images and videos from the scene showed the car ploughing into bystanders, with some people reportedly thrown onto the bonnet and others pinned underneath the vehicle.
According to fire services, four individuals, including a child, were trapped beneath the car and had to be freed by lifting it.
In other footage, fans were seen surrounding the vehicle, smashing its rear windows as officers struggled to control the crowd. Authorities quickly ruled out terrorism and, in a rare move, disclosed that the suspect is a white British male to prevent misinformation.
Police initially arrested Doyle on suspicion of attempted murder and driving under the influence of drugs, among other charges. He was granted an extension for questioning while the investigation progressed.
As the city begins to recover, Water Street has since reopened. Meanwhile, a local resident has come forward saying he was misidentified online as the driver, and has urged authorities to officially name the suspect to prevent further confusion.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels / Sora Shimazaki, X /@LFC
