LIVERPOOL, England — The suspect detained after a vehicle drove through a crowd of soccer fans in Liverpool’s city center, injuring dozens, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of drugs, authorities said Tuesday.
Officials also said more than 50 people were initially treated at hospitals after the incident Monday.
At a news conference in Liverpool in northwest England, Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill announced the formal arrest of the suspect, who was detained at the scene Monday.
“He remains in custody, where he is being interviewed,” she said.
Residents of Liverpool grappled with the aftermath of the incident, in which a vehicle could be seen in video shared on social media driving through a crowd of revelers celebrating Liverpool Football Club’s English Premier League title win.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said at the news conference Tuesday that police believed the arrested man had been able to follow an ambulance responding to reports that a member of the public had a heart attack after a roadblock was temporarily lifted.
Sims repeated that authorities were not investigating the incident as a terrorism-related event and urged the public against speculating about the incident.
Authorities had “robust” security measures in place ahead of Tuesday’s celebrations, she said, adding, “There was no intelligence to suggest an incident of this nature would take place.”
Sims said that as of Tuesday, 11 people remained hospitalized for ongoing treatment but that all appeared to be in “stable condition” and “recovering well.”
On Tuesday, swaths of downtown Liverpool were cordoned off, and there was a heavy police presence as investigators in white hazmat suits examined the site as a crowd of onlookers took in the aftermath.
Sue and Michael Hamilton, of Melbourne, Australia, said they had just missed the incident, having left the area not long before it unfolded.
“It wasn’t till we got back to our motel room that we realized what had happened,” said Sue Hamilton, 61, who said the couple came to join in the parade while they were visiting the U.K. for their son’s wedding. “We were feeling just so lucky and fortunate that we weren’t involved, because we were that close.”
Video shared on social media and verified by NBC News capturing the lead-up to the incident showed people yelling at the van, kicking at it and trying to open its doors as the driver appeared to move back and forth. The immediate circumstances surrounding the incident were unclear.
The vehicle could later be seen speeding up and driving through a crowd, knocking down a number of pedestrians, before it plowed forward again. A number of people were left lying on the asphalt.
After the car came to a stop, the video showed, angry Liverpool fans swarmed it again, pounding on its windows and exterior as police rushed to secure the scene.
In a statement Tuesday, Liverpool FC manager Arne Slot thanked fans, bystanders and first responders.
“Along with the supporters and bystanders who helped one another in an hour of need, I think everyone involved in the aftermath deserves the gratitude of all of us,” he said.
