English police charged Paul Doyle, 53, with seven crimes related to a multiple hit-and-run incident during Liverpool’s championship celebrations. The incident left 79 people injured, including a 9-year-old, and seven remain hospitalized in stable condition.
Charges against Doyle
The Merseyside Police stated that the charges include one count of dangerous driving and six counts of “unlawful and malicious assaults with intent to cause serious bodily harm”. The Chief Prosecutor for the Merseyside area, Sarah Hammond, detailed the charges: Doyle faces one count of dangerous driving, two counts of “unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to cause serious bodily harm”, two counts of “unlawful and malicious infliction of grievous bodily harm with intent to cause injury”, and two counts of “attempting to cause serious bodily harm, unlawfully and maliciously”.
According to police, the driver likely acted alone, and there is currently no suspicion of terrorism. British media report that the suspect is a local businessman and father of three, who is set to appear in Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Friday for a preliminary hearing.
The incident occurred around 6:00 PM on Water Street, as the man followed an ambulance called to attend to a suspected heart attack during the celebrations. He attempted to bypass road barriers, which were in place for the Liverpool team’s parade, by tailing the ambulance. A video circulating on social media shows the driver repeatedly changing direction amidst the crowd. Doyle was surrounded by the crowd and detained by police.