Liverpool Parade Suspect is Ex-Royal Marine Commando Who Was ‘Dropping Friend Off’ When He Ploughed Into Fans

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Married father-of-three ‘panicked’ when supporters surrounded car and grabbed his throat, close friend claims

The man being questioned over the horror at Liverpool Football Club’s victory parade is a former Royal Marine commando who was dropping a friend off as a favour when he ploughed into celebrating fans, it emerged today.

A close friend has broken silence to reveal the 53-year-old “panicked” when his car was surrounded by raucous supporters who smashed his window, opened his door and “grabbed his throat” during Monday night’s Premier League trophy celebrations.

The married father-of-three – who remains in custody on suspicion of multiple attempted murders – claims he can’t remember anything after allegedly suffering a “memory blackout” during the terrifying incident that left 79 people injured.

‘He Was Doing Someone a Favour’

Speaking exclusively to the Mail, the suspect’s friend painted a dramatic picture of how a simple good deed spiraled into catastrophe.

He was trying to get out of the parade and he has panicked,” the friend revealed. I believe he was doing someone a favour and dropping his wife’s friend and her daughter off for an appointment.

The former elite soldier found himself trapped in the wrong place at the wrong time as thousands of jubilant Liverpool fans celebrated their team’s Premier League triumph in the city streets.

He has had the window smashed, people were trying to get into the car, he has had his throat grabbed and he has panicked,” the friend added, describing a scene of chaos as the ex-commando’s vehicle became engulfed by the celebrating crowd.

Memory Blackout Claims

In a disturbing twist, the suspect reportedly called his wife during the incident before his memory allegedly went blank.

“He has phoned his wife to tell her what was going on and then he is said to have had a memory blackout,” the friend claimed. “He can’t remember anything after that.”

The revelation raises serious questions about what exactly happened in those crucial moments when celebration turned to carnage on Liverpool’s streets.

79 Injured in Horror Scenes

The scale of Monday night’s disaster continues to shock the city, with police today revealing the full extent of the casualties. A staggering 79 people were injured when the vehicle ploughed through crowds of celebrating fans, with 50 victims requiring hospital treatment.

The youngest victim was just nine years old – a child caught up in what should have been a joyous celebration of Liverpool’s Premier League success. The eldest was 78, highlighting how the horror affected fans of all ages who had gathered to see their heroes parade the trophy.

All victims are believed to be British, police confirmed today, as the investigation into one of the worst incidents in recent football celebration history continues.

Elite Soldier to Suspected Killer

The transformation from decorated Royal Marine commando to suspected multiple attempted murderer has stunned those who knew the 53-year-old. Marines are trained to remain calm under extreme pressure, making the “panic” explanation all the more extraordinary.

Royal Marines undergo some of the world’s toughest military training, designed to produce elite warriors capable of operating in the most hostile environments. The idea that such a highly-trained individual could lose control so catastrophically has left many searching for answers.

Three Serious Charges

The suspect faces a battery of serious charges that could see him jailed for decades if convicted:

Multiple attempted murder charges – reflecting the 79 casualties and the severity of injuries inflicted on innocent fans, including children.

Driving under the influence of drugs – raising questions about the suspect’s state of mind and whether substances played a role in the tragedy.

Dangerous driving – for the manner in which the vehicle was driven through the packed streets.

He has been held in custody since Monday night as detectives piece together exactly what happened during those terrifying moments.

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

According to the friend‘s account, the suspect was simply performing a good deed – giving his wife’s friend and her daughter a lift to an appointment. How this act of kindness transformed into one of Liverpool’s darkest nights remains under investigation.

The timing could not have been worse. Liverpool’s victory parade had brought thousands onto the streets in a massive outpouring of joy after the club’s Premier League triumph. Streets that would normally be navigable were packed with ecstatic fans waving flags, singing songs and celebrating their team’s success.

Crowd Turned Violent?

The friend’s claims that supporters smashed the car window, tried to force entry and grabbed the driver’s throat paint a picture of how quickly celebration can turn to confrontation. If true, it suggests the suspect may have felt his life was in danger.

However, these claims will need to be thoroughly investigated and corroborated by witness statements and any available footage from the numerous phones that would have been recording the parade.

Family Man’s Nightmare

The suspect’s wife and three children are now facing their own nightmare as their husband and father sits in a police cell accused of attempting to murder dozens of people. The family man who left home to do a simple favour now finds himself at the center of a criminal investigation that has shocked the nation.

For the families of the 79 victims – including the parents of the nine-year-old child injured in the incident – the wait for answers continues. Many remain in hospital recovering from their injuries, their lives forever changed by what happened on what should have been a night of pure celebration.

Investigation Continues

Merseyside Police are working around the clock to establish the exact sequence of events. They will be examining:

CCTV footage from multiple angles showing the vehicle’s route through the crowds. Witness statements from those who saw the car before, during and after the incident. forensic evidence from the vehicle itself, including any damage consistent with the friend’s claims of an attack. The suspect’s medical history and any conditions that could explain a “memory blackout.

Toxicology results will be crucial in determining whether drugs played any role in the tragedy, as suggested by the driving under the influence charges.

City in Shock

Liverpool, a city that knows how to celebrate its football success, is struggling to comprehend how a night of joy turned into a scene of horror. The victory parade, meant to be a moment of unity and celebration, will now be forever tainted by the memories of injured fans and traumatized witnesses.

As the former Royal Marine commando remains in custody, his friend’s explosive claims add another layer of complexity to an already tragic situation. Whether he was a good Samaritan caught in a nightmare scenario or something more sinister will be for the courts to decide.

For now, a city waits for answers while 79 people – from a nine-year-old child to a 78-year-old pensioner – recover from their injuries, their lives forever changed by a few moments of madness on Merseyside.