On a rainy May evening in 2025, what should have been a jubilant celebration for Liverpool FC fans quickly turned into a scene of chaos and horror. As the city basked in the glory of its 2024/2025 English League title victory, more than a million people filled the streets, eager to be part of a historic moment. But within a matter of minutes, Water Street—just off the parade route—became the site of a devastating attack that left over 100 people injured, ranging from infants to the elderly.
According to ESPN and BBC, Paul Doyle, a 54-year-old former Royal Marine from Croxteth, Liverpool, used his Ford Galaxy as a weapon, driving it into the densely packed crowd between 17:59 and 18:01 on May 26, 2025. The car, weighing nearly two tonnes, ploughed through fans, shattering the festive atmosphere. Dashcam footage played during Doyle's sentencing hearing showed him yelling, "get out of the way," and "get out of the fucking way," as terrified pedestrians scrambled to pull children out of harm's path. The windshield shattered when a man landed on the roof, and a pram was seen overturned—an image that would haunt many witnesses and victims.
Doyle's actions were nothing short of catastrophic. The youngest victim, six-month-old Teddy Eveson, was thrown about 15 feet onto the road from his pushchair. Other victims, whose ages spanned up to 77 years, suffered serious injuries. In total, Doyle pleaded guilty to 31 offences, including dangerous driving, affray, 17 charges of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, nine charges of grievous bodily harm with intent, and three charges of wounding with intent. During the hearing on December 15, 2025, Doyle wept as footage of the incident was replayed in court, visibly shaken by the consequences of his rage-fueled rampage.
Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC described Doyle as a "man who is on the rampage, whose anger has completely taken over him." Greaney asserted that Doyle had ample opportunity to stop and seek help from police officers present at the scene, but instead chose to drive into the crowd. "By doing this, he not only caused massive injury, but he also instilled terror in those who attended an event they thought would be a day of joy," Greaney told the court, as reported by ESPN. Doyle himself admitted, "I just destroyed my family's life," a sentiment that echoed the devastation left in his wake.
In a remarkable act of bravery, Daniel Barr, described by prosecutors as a "hero," jumped into the back of Doyle's car during the final 16 seconds of its movement, managing to help stop the vehicle. Barr later recounted seeing the crowd's mood shift from joy to desperation as people were thrown into the air by Doyle's car. The rapid response of emergency services, praised by city officials, helped prevent an even greater tragedy.
In the aftermath, questions swirled around how Doyle was able to access Water Street on such a high-profile day. Some eyewitnesses and critics argued that more could have been done to prevent vehicles from entering crowded streets. Mike Blair, a Liverpool supporter who helped rescue people trapped under the car, told BBC, "The council should have done more, there should be barriers in place, cars should not have been allowed to drive through that." Opposition leader Carl Cashman echoed these concerns, calling for the full release of the independent report into the event's planning and saying, "It's quite clear to me that there were cars, not only his, that were going down that road that never should have been there."
Liverpool City Council, however, maintained that it had implemented a robust and comprehensive traffic management plan. An independent evaluation by event management expert Eric Stuart, commissioned in the wake of the tragedy, found no blame attached to the council or its partners—including emergency services, Merseytravel, and Merseyside police. The plan included hard and soft road closures, traffic diversions, extensive signage, traffic cones, stewards, and police vehicles. Monitoring was carried out using drones, CCTV, body-worn cameras, and helicopter footage, ensuring real-time oversight of the event. The council emphasized that "the cornerstone of the plans is the lawful compliance of motorists."
Water Street, where the incident occurred, was designated as a "red route" for emergency vehicles and was closed with both hard and soft measures. Feeder roads were also closed and staffed by stewards. Dale Street, not part of the parade route, remained open as an arterial route for public transport. Despite these measures, Doyle managed to gain access, highlighting the inherent challenges of managing such a large-scale event in a bustling city center.
City leader Liam Robinson, who was hosting dignitaries in the Cunard Building nearby when the incident unfolded, described the day as one of the three worst of his professional life—comparable only to his experience at Liverpool Street Station during the 7/7 London bombings. "The bit that was really upsetting is the actions of one bad individual frankly caused such mayhem and horror and fear for so many people. That’s the bit that’s completely unacceptable," Robinson told LiverpoolWorld. He stressed the importance of supporting the victims and learning from the tragedy to improve safety for future celebrations.
Robinson also commended the swift and dedicated response of council staff, emergency services, and local businesses that opened their doors to help those affected. "That genuinely sort of shows the true spirit of what this city is all about," he said. The council has pledged to release the full independent report in 2026, promising transparency and a commitment to continuous improvement in event management.
As Liverpool looks ahead to future victories and celebrations, the memory of May 26, 2025, will serve as a sobering reminder of the importance of vigilance, planning, and community resilience. The city’s leaders, emergency services, and residents alike are determined to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated, even as they honor the spirit and unity that defined Liverpool in the face of adversity.
