A tragic car-ramming incident during a street festival in Vancouver has left at least nine people dead and more than 20 injured, police confirmed late Saturday evening.
The attack occurred at approximately 8:14 p.m. local time (03:14 GMT) at the annual Lapu Lapu Festival, a celebration of Filipino culture held near East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street in the southern part of the city. Authorities have arrested a 30-year-old man, who remains in custody. Vancouver Police said they are “confident that this incident was not an act of terrorism,” but investigations continue.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who suspended his campaign events ahead of Monday’s national election to offer condolences, called the tragedy “every family’s nightmare.” He said, “Last night, families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a son or a daughter. I know that I join all Canadians in mourning with you.”
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and heartbreak. Yoseb Vardeh, a food truck vendor at the festival, told the BBC that some of his customers were struck while waiting for food. “I stepped outside my food truck and just saw bodies under food trucks… husbands crying out for their wives or kids. It was horrible,” he recounted.
Videos posted to social media showed emergency vehicles flooding the scene and injured individuals receiving urgent medical attention.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said he was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the attack, sending support to the victims and Vancouver’s Filipino community, one of the city’s largest ethnic groups. City councillor Peter Fry described the festival as a “vibrant, family-orientated event” and noted the city is struggling to come to terms with the sudden violence.
Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr expressed his condolences and assured that the Philippine consulate general would work closely with Canadian authorities. King Charles III also issued a message of sympathy, saying he and Queen Camilla were “profoundly saddened” by the loss of life.
Leaders from across Canada’s political spectrum, including Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre and New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, also extended their sympathies. Singh, who had attended the festival earlier but left before the attack, said he was “horrified” by the news.
The Lapu Lapu Festival, established in Vancouver in 2023, honors Filipino hero Lapu-Lapu and symbolizes cultural harmony in British Columbia. Saturday’s events, meant to celebrate resilience and heritage, ended in devastating tragedy.
