An ex-Royal Marine, Paul Doyle, unleashed terror on crowds of Liverpool FC fans celebrating their Premier League victory in May 2025, intentionally ploughing his two-ton Ford Galaxy into them on Water Street, central Liverpool. The horrific incident, which many victims and first responders initially feared was a terrorist attack, left 134 people injured, with dozens requiring hospital treatment. Doyle, 54, from Croxteth, subsequently pleaded guilty to 31 offenses, including dangerous driving, affray, and grievous bodily harm-related charges, acknowledging his intent to cause serious harm.

The rampage occurred as jubilant fans were making their way home after an open-top bus parade. Dashcam footage from inside Doyle's vehicle, described by prosecutors as "truly shocking," captured him screaming obscenities like "F***ing hell, move!" and "F***ing pricks" as he accelerated into the throngs. Victims were knocked "flying like skittles," with some bodies "spinning through the air" and children being dragged under the car. The court heard how Doyle, ignoring traffic diversion measures, swerved into a closed-off lane densely populated with pedestrians, showing a deliberate disregard for public safety.

Among the casualties was Jay Vernon, a 34-year-old cycle response paramedic for North West Ambulance Service. Despite being "sent flying" himself after being struck from behind, Mr. Vernon bravely picked himself up to treat others, recalling his immediate thought: "I'm in the middle of a terrorist incident." He watched in horror as Doyle reversed into an ambulance before speeding off again. Another paramedic, Matt Hall, 39, described a scene of "casualties lying around" with blunt force trauma, chest injuries, rib, and bone fractures. Emergency services responded effectively, but police confirmed it was "only by sheer luck that nobody was killed."

The court was presented with harrowing details of the injuries sustained by victims. Simon Nash suffered a head laceration, rib fractures, and multiple abrasions after being thrown into the air. A 77-year-old woman and an 11-year-old boy were among those who suffered multiple fractures and were trapped under the car. Other victims included Jack Trotter, who sustained a leg injury forcing him to quit football, Scott Dolan with knee, back, and hand injuries, and Jessica Fawcett, who quit her nursery job due to a foot injury. Miraculously, a six-month-old baby, Teddy Eveson, was uninjured despite his pram being hit and thrown.

Doyle's reign of terror, lasting approximately seven minutes, was ultimately brought to an end by the heroic actions of former soldier Daniel Barr. Mr. Barr bravely climbed into the rear passenger seat of the Ford Galaxy and forcibly held the automatic gear selector in 'park', despite Doyle continuing to keep his foot on the accelerator. Police quickly intervened to protect Doyle from the enraged crowd, who were attempting to drag him from the vehicle.

During his police interview, Doyle initially claimed he acted in "blind panic" and feared for his life, alleging he saw men with a knife and had alcohol thrown into his eyes. However, prosecutors, led by Paul Greaney KC, vehemently dismissed these claims, stating that dashcam footage clearly showed Doyle as "a man in a rage whose anger had completely taken hold of him." Greaney asserted that Doyle "just lost his temper in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to" and "intended to cause them serious harm." It was clarified that the incident was not a terrorist attack, and Doyle was sober with no vehicle defects. Doyle, an IT consultant with degrees in psychology and maths, had served in the Royal Marines, though the exact length of his service has been debated.

Doyle, who was in the city to pick up friends who had attended the parade, sobbed in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court as the graphic footage was played. Sentencing proceedings commenced with victim personal statements from 78 people being presented to the court, detailing the profound and lasting physical and psychological trauma inflicted by his actions. Doyle faces a potential jail term exceeding 10 years for his deliberate and destructive actions.