Man arrested and nine dead after car ploughs into crowd at a Vancouver street festival. Here's what we know
Nine people are dead after a car ploughed into a crowded street festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday evening.
An unknown number of people were also injured in the mass casualty incident at an event organized by the local Filipino community.
While Canadian authorities say they are 'confident' that it was 'not an act of terrorism,' Prime Minister Mark Carney said they are 'monitoring the situation closely.'
What happened?
According to Vancouver Police, at approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday evening local time, a car was driven into the crowd celebrating the annual Lapu Lapu festival, a Filipino community event celebrating Lapu Lapu Day.
At least nine people were killed and 'multiple others' were injured as the driver struck pedestrians.
The incident occurred at E 41st Avenue and Fraser Street after the final live performance of the day on the grounds of a local high school by Apl.de.ap, a Filipino American rapper and a founding member of the Black Eyed Peas.
An eyewitness, Yoseb Vardeh, who is a co-owner of the Bao Buns food truck, told BBC World Service that the driver appeared to be going for 'maximum damage' as he went 'completely straight, right through the crowd' at about 100kph (62mph).
He said the car struck several of his customers, adding that the driver tried to flee but was caught by people nearby.
'I just saw bodies underneath people's food trucks, and husbands crying out for their wife, or their kids. It was just horrible,' he said.
Some unverified videos and photos show injured people lying on the street amid chaos and a heavy police presence. A black SUV with a crumpled front section could be seen in one of the still photos.
Who was the driver?
Police have taken a 30-year-old male suspect into custody. Only one vehicle and one suspect were involved. He was initially detained by people at the scene.
The police did not clarify whether the suspect had a criminal record.
'It would be inappropriate for me to get into those kind of details at this point,' Steve Rai, interim police chief, said, adding it would be 'unfair' to make comments on whether the suspect was on bail.
Authorities have not yet said whether the incident was deliberate. Vancouver police wrote on X late on Saturday: 'At this time, we are confident that this incident was not an act of terrorism.'
'We will provide more information as the investigation unfolds,' police said.
An update is expected at 10 a.m. local time (1 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. UK).
What do we know about the victims?
As yet, no details of those killed or injured have been released. It is expected that many will be from the Filipino Canadian community.
This year's festivities were part of the broader recognition of 27 April as Lapu Lapu Day in British Columbia, officially declared in 2023 to acknowledge the significance of Filipino Canadians in the province.
The day celebrates Datu Lapu-Lapu, an Indigenous Visayan Chieftain from Mactan, Philippines.
According to the street party's website, Lapu-Lapu is considered the first national hero of the Philippines.
He is described as an 'enduring symbol of unwavering resistance and indomitable spirit during the Age of Exploration,' and 'the first to rise against the tide of Spanish colonisation.'
What has been the reaction from Canadian officials
The incident comes less than 48 hours before Canada's federal elections. At the moment, there is no suggestion of a connection between the incident and the election.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was monitoring the situation closely.
'I am devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver earlier this evening,' he wrote. 'I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver.
'We are all mourning with you. We are monitoring the situation closely, and thankful to our first responders for their swift action.'
Pierre Poilievre, leader of Canada's Conservative Party, called the incident a 'senseless attack,' while the leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party, David Eby, said he was 'shocked and heartbroken.'
New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, who was at the Lapu Lapu event in Vancouver before the incident took place, said he was 'horrified to learn' that 'innocent people' have been killed and injured.
'As we wait to learn more, our thoughts are with the victims and their families – and Vancouver's Filipino community, who were coming together today to celebrate resilience.'
David Eby, the premier of British Columbia, the province where Vancouver is located, said he was shocked and heartbroken. 'We are in contact with the City of Vancouver and will provide any support needed,' he added.
Vancouver mayor Ken Sim said in a statement on X that he was 'shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident at today's Lapu Lapu Day event.'
'Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver's Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time.'
What has been the international reaction?
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr of the Philippines, better known as Bongbong Marcos, said he was 'shattered to hear about the terrible incident' in Vancouver.
Mr Marcos said the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver was working with Canadian authorities to ensure that the incident would be thoroughly investigated.
In the United Kingdom, King Charles III has said he was 'profoundly saddened' to learn of the incident in Vancouver, extending his 'deepest possible sympathy'.
Charles, who is the King of Canada, said: 'Both my wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the dreadful attack and utterly tragic loss of life in Vancouver, which took place as the Filipino community came together to mark the celebration of one of their most special festivals.
'Our hearts and prayers go out to all those whose lives have been shattered by such a desperate tragedy and we send our deepest possible sympathy at a most agonizing time for so many in Canada.'
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy also said he is 'deeply saddened' by the incident in Vancouver.
'I am shocked and deeply saddened by the terrible events at Vancouver's Lapu Lapu festival last night,' Mr Lammy wrote on X.
'Our thoughts are with all of those affected, their families and loved ones.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Killer of London, Ont., Muslim family appeals convictions, challenging use of manifesto at trial
Warning: This story contains distressing details. A London, Ont., man convicted of killing four members of a Muslim family and severely injuring a fifth member in a hate-motivated attack four years ago is appealing on three grounds, including that the judge should not have allowed the jury to consider his white nationalist manifesto. A Windsor jury found Nathaniel Veltman guilty in November 2023 of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Three months later, then Superior Court Justice Renee Pomerance ruled his actions amounted to a "textbook case" of terrorism as defined under Canadian law. He was sentenced in January 2024. Friday's news of the appeal comes on the fourth anniversary of the killing of Yumnah Afzaal, 15, her parents — Madiha Salman, 44, an engineer, and Salman Afzaal, 46, a physiotherapist — and family matriarch Talat Afzaal, 74, a teacher and artist. The youngest family member, a boy, survived. Veltman drove his pickup truck into the family as they were taking an evening stroll on June 6, 2021. Appeal sought on 3 grounds "I appreciate that the community was horrified by this offence and the remaining members of the family were devastated by this offence. I respect that, and I feel very badly for both the family and for the community," Veltman's appeal lawyer, Stephen Whitzman, told CBC News. "Mr. Veltman, of course, has a right to exercise his full legal rights, including his right to an appeal, and it's my job as his lawyer to assist him in doing that, and I hope that everyone will understand that those two things can both exist together." WATCH | CBC's coverage of the judge's 2023 ruling in the Muslim attack case: The appeal is being sought on three grounds, based on court records obtained by CBC News: The judge erred in admitting the ideological evidence, including Veltman's white supremacist manifesto, titled "A White Awakening," which set out his political and racist views. The judge erred in admitting Veltman's statements to a police officer which were obtained via a "Charter breach," meaning he was not properly warned of his rights. The judge erred in refusing the defence application for a mistrial because of what Veltman's lawyer at the time called "inflammatory language" during the Crown's closing statement, including references to the crime scene and the grievous injuries suffered by the victims. Veltman's trial lasted 12 weeks. The jury heard evidence he was motivated by right-wing extremist and Islamophobic views, and he described himself as a white nationalist. He grew up in a strict Christian home and fell into a web of online hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, the trial heard. Veltman testified in his own defence and said he took magic mushrooms a day before the killing in order to escape the "hell" of his mind. The killing galvanized London and Canadian society to create laws and groups that would combat Islamophobia. As it has on every anniversary of the killing, the community gathered Friday to reflect on the family, who became known as Our London Family, and to recognize the impact of the tragedy.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Google searches for ‘how to move to Canada' cited in Travis Decker federal case
A federal arrest warrant has been issued for Travis Caleb Decker, the man accused of kidnapping and killing his three young daughters near Leavenworth, Washington, after authorities say he fled the area and may be attempting to escape prosecution. According to a newly filed affidavit from U.S. Marshals Service Deputy Keegan Stanley, Decker is charged with Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution. The charge comes in addition to existing state charges that include three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree kidnapping. The affidavit, filed in U.S. District Court in Eastern Washington, describes the intensive investigation following the disappearance and death of Decker's children: Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia. The girls were last seen on May 30, during a scheduled custody visit in the Wenatchee area. Their remains were discovered two days later, on June 2, on U.S. Forest Service land near Icicle River Road in Leavenworth. Decker's vehicle was found at the scene, but he was not. Court documents reveal that Decker, a former military member and avid outdoorsman, may have used his extensive knowledge of wilderness survival to evade capture. Authorities say he is trained in long-distance movement, navigation, and off-the-grid living. Investigators also noted that Decker once lived off the land in remote terrain for more than two months. According to the affidavit, Decker conducted a series of Google searches on May 26, 2025 — just days before the girls were reported missing — that included phrases like 'how does a person move to canada', 'how to relocate to canada', 'jobs canada' and 'jobs canada'. He also visited the official Canadian job website, suggesting he may have been planning to flee the country. The affidavit notes that the location of the girls' remains is less than a dozen miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, which stretches to the Canadian border. The U.S. Marshals believe Decker may have headed into remote terrain with the intention of escaping law enforcement. A Chelan County Superior Court judge issued a warrant for Decker's arrest on June 3, ordering no bail until his first appearance in court. That warrant carries nationwide extradition authority. Decker's location remains unknown, and law enforcement agencies nationwide continue the search. Officials urge the public to report any confirmed sightings to authorities immediately.
San Francisco Chronicle
4 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Man once convicted in Minnesota of supporting al-Qaida is now charged in Canada for alleged threats
MONTREAL (AP) — A man who was once convicted in the United States of supporting al-Qaida has been charged in Canada after allegedly threatening an attack. Mohammed Abdullah Warsame, 51, allegedly told a homeless shelter employee in Montreal that he wanted to build bombs to detonate on public transit. He was charged with uttering threats. He was ordered at a court appearance in Montreal on Friday to undergo a 30-day psychological assessment and return to court July 7, according to the newspaper La Presse. 'Both parties have reason to believe that Mr. Warsame's criminal responsibility is in question in this case,' Vincent Petit, who represents Warsame, told the court. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed that he is the same Mohammed Warsame who spent 5½ years in solitary confinement before pleading guilty in Minnesota in 2009 to one count of conspiracy to provide material support and resources to al-Qaida, which the U.S. calls a terrorist organization that was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Warsame was sentenced to seven years and eight months in federal prison with credit for time served. He was deported to Canada in 2010 and had no fixed address at the time of the latest alleged incident. The Old Mission Brewery, which runs several homeless shelters in Montreal, contacted police after Warsame allegedly said on May 27 that he wanted to carry out an attack that would kill a large number of people. Warsame was hospitalized for psychiatric reasons, and he was formally arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Wednesday. The Somali-born Canadian citizen admitted in his 2009 plea agreement that he traveled to Afghanistan in 2000 to attend al-Qaida training camps, where he dined with the organization's founder, Osama bin Laden. Prosecutors say he later sent money to one of his training camp commanders and went to the Taliban's front line. Warsame later settled in Minneapolis, where he continued to provide information to al-Qaida associates. Prosecutors painted him as a jihadist who called his time in one training camp 'one of the greatest experiences' of his life. They said that even after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, he passed along information to al-Qaida operatives about border entries and whereabouts of jihadists — and only stopped when he was arrested in December 2003. But his attorneys depicted him as a bumbling idealist whom other fighters in the camps in Afghanistan viewed as ineffective and awkward. Warsame's case took unusually long to work through the U.S. court system partly because everyone — including the judge, defense attorneys and prosecutors — needed security clearances. Retired agent Harry Samit, who was the lead FBI investigator on the case and is now director of special investigations for the professional assessment company Pearson VUE in Bloomington, recalled in an interview Friday that Warsame's case was the second major al-Qaida case to break in Minnesota. It came after that of Zacarias Moussaoui, who took flight simulator training in Minnesota and remains the only person to stand trial in a U.S. court in the 9/11 attacks. Moussaoui was jailed on an immigration violation when hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade Center and Pentagon and crashed in a Pennsylvania field. Samit, whose books on the Minnesota cases will be published starting this summer, said the FBI got word as it was preparing for Moussaoui to stand trial that another al-Qaida operative was in Minneapolis. He said he is certain that Warsame was a sleeper agent who was waiting for instructions from his commanders before he was found. While Warsame was 'kind of a goofy, not very threatening guy,' Samit said, he and other agents who questioned him also concluded that he was 'pure of heart and he was dedicated to the cause.' He said that was apparently enough for al-Qaida leaders who sent him Minnesota, where at a minimum they used him to raise money. When Warsame was deported, the retired agent said, the FBI gave Canadian authorities a 'full accounting' of what it knew and why the bureau still considered him a threat. So he said wasn't surprised to learn this week, after all these years, that Warsame might still remain a danger to society.
