Vancouver was rocked by tragedy on Saturday night after an SUV plowed through a crowd gathered at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival, leaving multiple people dead and several others injured. Authorities have confirmed that the attack, while devastating, is not being treated as an act of terrorism.
The incident unfolded around 8:00 PM local time near East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street in Vancouver, during festival celebrations honoring Lapu-Lapu, a Filipino national hero. Witnesses described scenes of horror as the vehicle sped through the festival area, hitting attendees at high speed.
“It was just horrible,” said a food truck vendor at the scene. “The car went completely straight, right through the crowd.”
Police have arrested a 30-year-old Vancouver resident at the scene. Officials stated that the suspect, who was detained by bystanders before law enforcement arrived, was known to police in certain circumstances, although no details about his criminal history have been released.
Despite initial fears, Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai stressed, “At this time, we are confident this was not an act of terrorism.”
Local officials, including Vancouver City Councillor Peter Fry and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, expressed profound grief over the incident. Fry noted the city’s shock, calling the event “unprecedented.” Carney offered condolences to the victims’ families and the Filipino Canadian community, calling the tragedy “devastating.”
Festival organizers Filipino BC issued a heartfelt statement, saying:
“We are still finding the words to express the deep heartbreak brought on by this senseless tragedy. We encourage everyone to check in, support and hold each other.”
An investigation into the full circumstances surrounding the crash remains ongoing. Authorities are expected to provide further updates later today.
