Multiple people killed as driver ploughs into festival crowd in Vancouver
SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE killed as a driver ploughed into a crowd at a street festival last night in the Canadian city of Vancouver, local police said.
'A number of people have been killed and multiple others are injured,' Vancouver Police posted on X.
'The driver is in custody.'
The incident happened as members of the Filipino community gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day, Vancouver mayor Ken Sim posted on social media.
The festival, which commemorates a Filipino anti-colonial leader from the 16th century, falls this year on the weekend before Canada's election.
'Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver's Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time,' Sim wrote.
Police said the incident happened shortly after 8pm Saturday local time (3am GMT Sunday) in the city's Sunset on Fraser neighborhood.
Photos published by Canadian broadcaster CBC showed emergency crews at the scene as well as large crowds at the block party earlier Saturday.
Advertisement
Festival security guard Jen Idaba-Castaneto told local news site Vancouver Is Awesome that she saw 'bodies everywhere.'
'You don't know who to help, here or there. It's so shocking,' she said.
British Columbia Premier David Eby said he was 'shocked & heartbroken' by the news in a post on X.
The event featured a parade, a film screening, dancing and a concert, with two members of the Black Eyed Peas featured on the lineup published by the organisers.
'Our thoughts are with the victims and their families — and Vancouver's Filipino community,' Jagmeet Singh, leader of the left-wing New Democratic Party said on social media.
Lapu Lapu Day is celebrated in the Philippines in remembrance of indigenous chief Lapulapu, who led his men to defeat Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in battle in 1521.
The deadly incident comes a year after Canadian Nathaniel Veltman was sentenced to life in prison for running down a Muslim family with his truck on the street in London, Ontario in 2021.
© AFP 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Thousands attend pro-Palestine and anti-immigration rallies in Cork
A major policing operation was in place in Cork City this afternoon as thousands of people marched in two separate rallies. Dozens of uniformed gardaí, backed up by dozens of members of the Garda Public Order Unit — all deployed in soft cap mode — and members of the Garda Mounted Unit were on duty on the Grand Parade in Cork. Thousands gathered in one area for a Munster-wide pro-Palestine march, and nearby for what was billed as a "national protest for Ireland," organised by anti-immigration campaigners. Several prominent far-right agitators were involved in that event, including former Ireland First leader Derek Blighe. Hermann Kelly of the Irish Freedom Party was among those attending. Garda Mounted Unit at Grand Parade Cork to support the Garda Public Order Unit as two protest marches take place on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Larry Cummins Rebel News, a Canadian-based far-right online news website, had a reporter on the ground covering what it described as a rally of Irish patriots opposed to the Government's mass immigration policies. Crowd control barriers were in place to keep both sides apart. The Garda Air Unit patrolled the skies above, and with road closures and diversions in place, there was widespread disruption to public transport timetables. Following initial chanting, some verbal insults were traded back and forth between sections of both crowds before the marches began. Protest march to City Hall, Cork on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Larry Cummins The pro-Palestinian campaigners were marshalled in one direction — down St Patrick's Street, onto Oliver Plunkett Street, and back to the Grand Parade for speeches and music — while the anti-immigration protest marched in the other direction, down the South Mall at around the same time, to gather on MacSwiney Quay outside City Hall for speeches. Gardaí have not given out official crowd estimates, but organisers of the pro-Palestine march, the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign — who record attendance at their weekly rallies — have put their numbers at just over 4,500 people. They heard calls on the Irish Government to place sanctions on Israel, pass the Occupied Territories Bill, and stop the Central Bank of Ireland from authorising the sale of Israeli bonds in Europe. Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign weekly protest march in Cork City against the atrocities in Gaza. Picture Larry Cummins Naser Swirki, a theatre and film director who was born in Gaza and now lives in Skibbereen spoke of the horror that Israel is inflicting on people who are trying to survive in his country. 'In Gaza, death spares no one — doctors, children, the displaced, and even hope itself,' he said. 'In Gaza, instead of saying, "See you tomorrow," they say, "See you in heaven." 'Parents memorise their children's clothes to identify their remains later. 'They struggle to get a piece of bread, offering it before bed, so their children don't die while they're still hungry.' Protest march to City Hall, Cork on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Larry Cummins Limerick-based Palestinian poet Tamar, 26 — whose four brothers and parents are still in Palestine — and activist Tadhg Hickey were also among the speakers. It is estimated that around 3,000 people marched in the 'national protest for Ireland' rally, with many carrying tricolours. They heard speakers criticising government immigration and housing policy. Mr Blighe also addressed the Irish diaspora and said Irish nationalists want to give them a 'homeland to return to.' Garda Mounted Unit at Grand Parade Cork to support the Garda Public Order Unit as two protest marches take place on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Larry Cummins Wearing a set of blue rosary beads on his left wrist, he said the government wants to put climate, diversity and foreigners first. 'What counts in my heart is to put the Irish first,' he said. The organisers of both events encouraged participants to behave responsibly. Both events passed off peacefully and there was just one arrest for an alleged public order offence. Read More Stricter regulations needed at Cork camper van site after excrement dumped in fields, council hears
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Irishman arrested for 'illegally re-entering the United States'
Another man was arrested and accused of abetting him The case stems from an IRS audit of Eaton's 2017-2019 tax returns, focused on whether the company improperly shifted intellectual property (IP) to Ireland. Photo: Getty An Irishman has been arrested in Vermont for 'illegally re-entering the United States.' Andrew McRedmond (42) and Michael Doherty (41) were arrested on May 31st by United States Border Patrol. Both men were charged with criminal complaints. McRedmond was charged with 'illegally re-entering the United States as an alien and entry into the United States at a time or place other than authorised.' Meanwhile, his associate, who lives in Quincy, Massachusetts, was arrested for 'transporting McRedmond in furtherance of his illegal entry.' The pair appeared before Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on June 2nd. He ordered Doherty was released on conditions of pretrial supervision pending further proceedings, while McRedmond was told he must remain behind bars. According to court records in the early hours of May 31st, a man wearing a blue hat with white mesh was seen walking across a golf course in Vermont, a quarter mile south of the US/Canadian border. Cops determined that a vehicle driven by Doherty had recently crossed the US border, and was also in the vicinity of the person seen in the woods near the golf course. When his vehicle was stopped by police, they found McRedmond was also inside the vehicle. The blue hat with white mesh was also seen on the dashboard. The case stems from an IRS audit of Eaton's 2017-2019 tax returns, focused on whether the company improperly shifted intellectual property (IP) to Ireland. Photo: Getty News in 90 Seconds - 6th June 2025 After his arrest McRedmond admitted that he was in the US illegally, and that he coordinated with Doherty to be picked up near the international border. In a statement, the US Attorney's office said that 'the complaints contain allegations only and that Doherty and McRedmond are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.' Michael Doherty faces up to five years behind bars if convicted, while Andrew McRedmond faces two years.
Irish Post
4 days ago
- Irish Post
Witness appeal after deaths of two people in Galway house fire
GARDAÍ have appealed for witnesses to come forward after two people died in a house fire in Connemara, Co. Galway. Officers and members of the fire service were called to reports of a fire at a home at Gleann Mhic Mhuireann in Casla at around 6.20am on June 3. Once the fire was brought under control the bodies of two people were discovered at the scene. They have since been named locally as Sonia 'Sonny' Jacobs, a US native, aged in her 70s, who moved to Ireland more than a decade ago. Ms Jacobs had previously served 17 years in a US prison, including time on death row, after she was wrongfully convicted of the murder of a US policeman and a Canadian constable. Sonia 'Sonny' Jacobs died in the house fire A man in his thirties, who is understood to have been her carer, also died in the incident. He has been named locally as Kevin Kelly, who was from the Casla area. Confirming his 'unexpected and tragic death' Mr Kelly's family said he will be 'lovingly missed and always remembered by his mother Fiona, his father Ken, Ken's partner Maureen and her son Jonathan, Kevin's partner Sheree and his siblings Jill and Cúán'. Mr Kelly's funeral will take place at Discovery Church at 1pm on June 7. The family have asked mourners to wear bright colours to the service. 'We respectfully request that we celebrate his wonderful life by all wearing bright colours to represent the fun, laughter and personality of Kevin,' they said. Gardaí have appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact Clifden Garda Station on 095 22500, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station,' they state. See More: Connemara, Galway, House Fire
