Liverpool hold silence to mark 35th anniversary of Hillsborough disaster: 97 balloons released at Anfield in memory of those who lost their lives with minute’s silence across the city

The city of Liverpool fell silent this afternoon to remember the 97 people who were killed in the Hillsborough disaster 35 years ago today.

Men, women and children were crushed during an FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield on 15 April 1989.

A jury concluded in 2016 that the victims were unlawfully killed and said a catalog of failings by police and ambulance services contributed to their deaths.

South Yorkshire Police built a narrative of lies to evade responsibility for its failures and instead blamed Liverpool fans for the disaster.

At 3.06pm today, when the match was stopped 35 years ago, staff and players across the club fell silent and 97 balloons were released at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium in a poignant tribute to the victims.

A minute’s silence was also observed at the Exchange Flags near Liverpool Town Hall. A bell rang 97 times to pay tribute to each of the victims – and the club’s anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone was played.

The Mersey ferry sounded its horn at the beginning and end of the minute’s silence and traffic was held up through the Mersey tunnels. The flag was flown at half-mast on civic buildings and football clubs during the day.

Liverpool players, staff and officials laid wreaths at the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield this morning.

Former Liverpool striker Sir Kenny Dalglish, chairman Billy Hogan and the managers and captains of both the men’s and women’s teams also paid tribute.

A wreath laid by manager Jurgen Klopp and the team had a message that said: ‘Forever in our hearts, the 97 will never be forgotten.’

Today, the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance, a support group for victims, said: ‘We will never forget what we saw that day. And we will never forget the 97 children, women and men who did not make it home and what their families went through.

‘To the families, survivors and all those affected, be kind to yourself and those around you today.’

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said: ‘Today on the 35th anniversary of Hillsborough I will be thinking of those lost, their families and their enduring courage and determination to pursue justice.

‘Making the Hillsborough Act a reality would be a priority for my Labor Government.’

Last year the Government chose not to introduce a Hillsborough Act which has been called for by campaigners.

The law will include a legal duty on public authorities and officials to tell the truth and proactively cooperate with official investigations and inquiries.

A Liverpool FC statement broadcast on X read: ‘Our thoughts today, as always, are with all those affected by the tragedy at Hillsborough and the 97 fans who will never be forgotten. You will never Walk alone.’

A statement on Nottingham Forest’s account on X said: ‘Today we remember those who tragically lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster 35 years ago.

‘Thoughts of everyone at Nottingham Forest are with all those affected’.

Kim Johnson, Labor MP for Liverpool Riverside wrote on X: ‘We will not forget the 97 Liverpool fans unlawfully killed, their families, the survivors and all those affected by the Hillsborough tragedy.

‘Their long and courageous fight for justice shows the need for a #HillsboroughLaw. #YNWA’.

Professor Matt Ashton, who was at the Hillsborough match and is now director of public health for Liverpool City Council, said: ’35 years ago today I was at a football match. 97 of us never returned.

‘Today I remember the 97, their families and loved ones and the survivors. #Hillsborough.’

A spokeswoman for Liverpool City Council said flags will be flown at half-mast on civic buildings and the town hall will be lit up in red in the evening in tribute today.

A specially designed bench to recognize survivors of the disaster was unveiled at Anfield on Friday.

The match commander on the day of the 1989 match, David Duckenfield, was charged with gross negligence manslaughter in 2017, but was acquitted in 2019 at a retrial held after the jury in his first trial was unable to reach a a judgement.

In 2021, retired officers Donald Denton and Alan Foster and former force solicitor Peter Metcalf, who were accused of changing statements to minimize the blame on South Yorkshire Police, were cleared of perverting the course of justice after a judge ruled there was no case to answer.

A spokesman for the campaign to introduce a Hillsborough Bill said: ‘The pain and suffering of the last 35 years has not diminished.

‘Today we pay tribute to all 97 supporters, they will never be forgotten and we fight on in their memory and for all those who have suffered such injustice at the hands of the state.

‘The truth about what really happened on that terrible day was not revealed for decades because public authorities and officials hid the truth in their own interests.

‘Yet 35 years on, the experiences of Hillsborough families have been repeated countless times, currently with the postal service scandal. Little has changed.

‘A Hillsborough Act, with a duty of honesty at its heart, would ensure that the struggles faced by the Hillsborough and Post Office families and countless others can never be repeated.

“It would create a legal duty on public authorities and officials to tell the truth and proactively cooperate with official investigations and inquiries.

‘Sir Keir Starmer has promised to make this law a reality if the Labor Party comes to power, we hope other parties will follow suit and stop this criminal abuse of power.’