A 53-year-old man was arrested after the “horror” incident on Water Street – which had been closed to cars due to the victory parade – on Monday evening. Four children were among around 50 people injured. One child was seriously hurt.

Merseyside Police said the suspect, the driver of the car, was British, white, and from the Liverpool area. The incident is not being treated as terrorism.

Footage circulating online appeared to show people in the crowd attempting to get close to the driver of the car, with one managing to open the driver’s car door.

Videos appeared to show the driver close the door before suddenly speeding up and veering into pedestrians on the crowded street.

Video clips posted on social media also showed people attempting to chase the car – with some kicking the vehicle and smashing the back window.

Police officers quickly surrounded the car as witnesses attempted to stop the driver, who was eventually detained by police.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live today, Liverpool city mayor Steve Rotheram said he was hopeful those seriously injured would “pull through very, very quickly”.

He said the incident in Water Street “will live with those people for all the wrong reasons”.

“There are still four people who are very, very ill in hospital and we are hoping of course that they pull through very, very quickly.”

Prime minister Keir Starmer said: “Scenes of joy turned to utter horror and devastation, and my thoughts and the thoughts of the whole country are with all of those that are affected, those injured, which of course includes children, their families, their friends, the whole community, Liverpool fans everywhere”.

Mr Starmer also said it was a “matter for the police” that they had provided details about the man who was arrested.

At a press conference last night, Dave Kitchin from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said 27 people were taken to hospital and 20 people treated at the scene.

Mr Kitchin said some patients had taken themselves to local hospitals.

This morning a police cordon remained in place at the scene, with a police van parked in front of a blue tent on the road and officers stationed along the street.

Empty bottles and cans littered the road and a Liverpool flag was attached to the top of traffic lights.

A survivor of the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 said she was knocked to the floor by the car during the incident and does not “want to go out again”.

“The side of the car went into me and I fell to the floor. It’s all a blur.”

Daniel Jones (28) said police restrained people who were “smashing” the car.

“They were ripping the registration plate off,” he said. “The back window was broken when the (driver) was still in it.”

Liverpool FC said the club was in “contact with Merseyside Police regarding the incident on Water Street which happened towards the end of the trophy parade”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident,” a post on X read.