Mel Stride says police action in Liverpool car ramming avoided 'social media vacuum' seen in Southport attacks

The incident occurred on Water Street around 6pm, according to Merseyside Police.

A 53-year-old British man was arrested at the scene, with Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims confirming: "We believe this to be an isolated incident, and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it."

Speaking to GB News, Mel Stride said: "Well, an incredibly sad, harrowing moment in the history of Liverpool and of course in our National History too.

"A doubly cruel time really, given there was such celebration at Liverpool's achievements at the moment that this happened.

"And of course, my thoughts are very much with the injured, with their friends and with their family."

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Emily Carver asked: "A lot has been said about how the police made the decision very early to release details about the suspect, the driver, a 53-year-old white British man.

"Do you think that decision was made off the back of Southport and all the criticism there was there that it was left far too long before we knew anything about the suspect?"

Stride said: "I think it is important that the police get information out in a prompt and timely manner.

"There was, of course, as you say, criticism around that terrible situation that occurred in Southport and the vacuum that seemed to have been created, which was then filled, in part at least, by social media and conspiracy theories and so on.

"I think the police have done the right thing to get information out in a timely way.

"I do also think it's very important actually that we now give the police the time and the space to look into this matter, not get too dragged into speculation and really wait to see what it is that they conclude has happened here."

Eamonn Holmes asked the Conservative MP: "But what do you think about the principle of releasing ethnicity, Mel? If they do it for this particular case, shouldn't it be done for all cases?"

Stride responded: "Well, I think that's down to the police to take those judgments and those decisions at the time.

"I think probably we should just take a slight step back from this space of speculating and think about why they've done various things and so on, and wait till we've got the full picture here, which can only really emerge once the police have fully looked into this matter, including the matter of the person that they've taken into custody."

Social media footage appeared to show a grey minivan striking pedestrians before veering into a larger crowd, pushing people along the street before coming to a stop.

Emergency services quickly attended the scene, with North West Ambulance Service working to provide medical assistance to those affected.

Police have stated they are not treating the incident as terrorism-related.