VANCOUVER, CANADA:
Tragedy struck Vancouver on Saturday evening when an SUV plowed through a crowd attending a Filipino community festival, leaving at least 11 people dead and dozens injured, according to police reports.
Authorities apprehended a 30-year-old local man at the scene. Police confirmed that he had a “long history” of mental health-related interactions with law enforcement but found no links to terrorism.
“This is the darkest day in our city’s history,” Vancouver’s Interim Chief Constable Steve Rai said during a Sunday press briefing. He warned that with several victims critically injured, the death toll could increase.
More than 100 officers have been assigned to the case, while city, provincial, and federal officials are working together to support affected families. “The community will carry the pain of this tragedy for a long time,” said RJ Aquino, head of Filipino BC, a local advocacy group.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney briefly paused his election campaign to offer condolences. Speaking in Hamilton, Ontario, Carney said, “Last night, families lost loved ones. Every Canadian stands with you in mourning.”
Police stated that no motive had yet been determined. There were no prior threats to the event, which took place in Vancouver’s Sunset neighborhood, a diverse area with a large Asian community. The Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party, commemorating Filipino hero Datu Lapu-Lapu’s historic victory over Spanish forces in 1521, was underway at the time of the attack.
Witnesses recounted seeing a black SUV driving erratically before the crowd was struck. Festival attendees reportedly chased and subdued the suspect until police arrived. Images posted online showed a damaged Audi SUV with a crumpled hood and dented fenders, as well as bodies lying near colorful food trucks.
The British Columbia government had officially recognized April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023, making the festival a significant celebration for the local Filipino community.
Canadian Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre tweeted his shock over the devastating event, while Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed deep sorrow in an official statement.
This horrific attack happened just one day before Canada’s general election, during a campaign largely focused on economic issues and strained relations with the United States under President Donald Trump.
