Police given more time to question Liverpool parade collision suspect

Merseyside Police has been given more time to question a 53-year-old man arrested over the Liverpool parade collision.

The suspect is being held on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and drug driving after a car was driven into a crowd at Liverpool FC's victory parade on Monday. Police have said the extra time they have been given to question the suspect runs into Thursday.

The force believes the vehicle which struck pedestrians on Water Street had followed an ambulance crew that was attending to someone suffering a heart attack, after a road block was temporarily lifted. Earlier, new footage emerged showing a car being driven into the crowd as panicked fans watched in horror and tried to avoid being hit.

The CCTV footage showed supporters attempting to move out of the way as the vehicle ploughed into supporters. Cries could be heard from the crowd - before police and members of the public chased after the car.

In an update on Wednesday, Merseyside Police said it was in contact with 79 people who were injured in the crash - an increase on the 65 people who were confirmed injured in the force's previous update. Seven people remain in hospital in a stable condition following the collision, the force added.

Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said: "I'm pleased to say that the number of people in hospital is reducing as they continue to recover from the awful incident. "We continue to support those still receiving treatment and as part of our ongoing enquiries we are identifying more people who were injured.

"I want to reassure the public of Merseyside that detectives are making significant progress as we seek to establish the full circumstances that led to what happened." DS Wilson said that "extensive CCTV enquiries" were being carried out across Liverpool to "establish the movements of the car, a Ford Galaxy, before the incident took place". She added: "We have already had an incredible response from many of those who were there on the day, and I thank them for their co-operation with our investigation.

"I would encourage anyone who has not yet contacted police who may have information on this incident to do so. "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." Read more:Liverpool parade reconstructedWhy police released 'unprecedented' details about suspectParade victim says he's been left 'traumatised' It comes after Water Street was reopened to vehicles and pedestrians on Wednesday after the police cordon was lifted.

Street cleaning teams worked overnight to clear the road, which had been littered with bottles, cans and football scarves and flags. One remaining Liverpool flag was removed from the top of a set of traffic lights by a worker wearing hi-vis.

???? Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app ???? On Tuesday night, Liverpool manager Arne Slot decided not to attend the League Managers Association's annual awards ceremony "in solidarity with those affected by the incident on Monday". Meanwhile, speaking at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said the collision on Water Street "showed the two faces of life".

He said: "The most beautiful face for a long, long time: the parade was incredible, the mood was incredible and from one second to another everything changed and we learned again there are more serious things in the world than football. "Thoughts and prayers go to the injured people and their families as well.

"It should have been one of the greatest days in the history of the city, after a long, long time, because we didn't have the opportunity to do it last time. I don't know how and why it happened but we know what happened and that's very bad.".