At least eleven people were killed and more than twenty were injured when a man rammed an SUV through a crowd at Vancouver’s Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party, a Filipino community festival on Saturday evening.
Gatekeepers News reports that the incident occurred two days before Canada’s 2025 federal election where members of the House of Commons to the 45th Canadian Parliament will be elected.
Eyewitnesses described the vehicle mounting the curb and accelerating through festival-goers around 8:14 p.m. local time near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, sending victims flying and scattering bodies across the street.
Bystanders chased down the 30-year-old Vancouver resident, who was known to police, and held him until arrival of police officers.
The suspect who suffered a self-inflicted injury was charged with multiple offences as investigators continued to probe his motive, though authorities ascertained it wasn’t an act of terrorism.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who delayed campaign events amid the tragedy, mourned the victims while addressing reporters in Hamilton and offered condolences to the Filipino-Canadian community.
Vancouver Police in an X post, noted that there was no evidence of extremist involvement and that the suspect acted alone.
Medical teams activated code orange protocols as dozens of ambulances transported the injured to multiple hospitals.
Filipino BC, a provincial community advocacy group urged the public to refrain from sharing graphic footage online out of respect for the victims.
