Quick Read
- A car drove into a crowd at a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, killing nine people.
- The suspect, a 30-year-old man, was arrested at the scene and is known to police.
- The incident occurred during the Lapu Lapu Day festival, celebrating Filipino culture.
- Police confirmed the attack was not an act of terrorism.
- Canadian officials are investigating whether mental health issues played a role.
Car plows into crowd at Vancouver Filipino festival
A driver plowed a car into a crowd at a street festival celebrating Filipino heritage in Vancouver on Saturday night, killing at least nine people and injuring others. The incident occurred during the Lapu Lapu Day festival, an annual event organized by British Columbia’s Filipino community to commemorate an Indigenous leader who fought against Spanish colonization.
Suspect arrested at the scene
The suspect, identified as a 30-year-old man, was arrested at the scene. Some festival-goers helped apprehend him before police arrived. Vancouver Police interim chief Steve Rai stated that the suspect was known to police in certain circumstances but did not provide further details, including whether he had a criminal record. Rai confirmed that the suspect acted alone, with one vehicle involved.
Police rule out terrorism
Authorities have ruled out terrorism as a motive for the attack. ‘At this time, we are confident that this incident was not an act of terrorism,’ Vancouver Police said in a statement. Canadian officials are investigating whether mental health issues may have played a role in the incident, according to a law enforcement source briefed on the investigation.
Eyewitness accounts of chaos
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and devastation. Kris Pangilinan, a Toronto-based journalist, told Canadian public broadcaster CBC, ‘It’s something you don’t expect to see in your lifetime. The driver just slammed the pedal down and rammed into hundreds of people. It was like seeing a bowling ball hit — all the bowling pins and all the pins flying up in the air.’ Another witness described the scene as resembling a war zone, with bodies scattered across the ground.
Community and political reactions
The organizers of the festival, Filipino BC, expressed their heartbreak in a statement on Instagram: ‘We are still finding the words to express the deep heartbreak brought on by this senseless tragedy. We are devastated for the families and victims.’ Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney mourned the victims, calling the incident ‘horrific’ and offering condolences to the Filipino Canadian community. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also expressed his sorrow, extending his deepest sympathies to the victims’ families.
Ongoing investigation
The Vancouver Police Department’s Major Crime Section is leading the investigation. Police have urged members of the public to come forward with any information about the incident. The festival, which featured food trucks, traditional Filipino dance performances, and cultural displays, was intended as a celebration of diversity and heritage. The tragic event has left the community in shock and mourning.