Latest news with #PacificColiseum
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Driver arrested after Pacific Coliseum crash
Vancouver Watch There is heightened concern about safety after a man rammed a car into the Pacific Coliseum Thursday night during a Cirque de Soleil performance.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Suspect in Cirque du Soleil crash was having ‘religious delusions,' Vancouver police say
The suspect who allegedly crashed a car into an East Vancouver venue during a Cirque du Soleil performance Thursday evening was apparently experiencing 'religious delusions,' according to police. The vehicle slammed into the entrance of Pacific Coliseum around 8 p.m., approximately one hour after the crowded show began. The Vancouver Police Department said the suspected driver, a 30-year-old local man, was arrested at the scene and has since been certified under B.C.'s Mental Health Act, which allows for involuntary treatment. 'We trust that he's getting the care that he needs,' Sgt. Steve Addison told reporters Friday at a news conference. The suspect's name has not been publicized as he has not been criminally charged. Suspect was 'talking about Satan' Addison said the individual does not have a criminal record or any history of police interactions related to his mental health, but it was 'apparent' he was in crisis when officers arrived at the scene Thursday. 'He was speaking and acting erratically,' Addison said. 'Talking about Satan, talking about God, saying other things that made it very obvious he was experiencing a mental health crisis.' Authorities have not confirmed how fast the car was travelling when it crashed into Pacific Coliseum, but said it was moving at a significant speed. No one was injured – but Addison said the outcome could have been much worse if the vehicle had not struck a concrete column that prevented it from fully entering the venue. Witness Mike Roberts told CTV News he was at the Cirque du Soleil performance when he heard a loud bang, which he initially assumed was part of the act. He said he got up to investigate after seeing 'a small piece of the vehicle' had landed near his seat. 'Went behind the curtains and from there saw the car that was sitting inside, or partially inside the Coliseum doors,' he said. Pacific Coliseum crash Emergency crews respond after a car crashed into the entrance of Pacific Coliseum in East Vancouver on June 5, 2025. Incident reignites safety concerns Thursday's incident came 41 days after the Lapu-Lapu Day vehicle attack that left 11 people dead and dozens of others injured – and while the circumstances are different, Addison said 'some of the similarities' have understandably reignited safety concerns in the city. Those are even more pressing ahead of a weekend marked by a number of large-scale events in Vancouver, including the B.C. Lions home opener and Italian Day on the Drive. Police confirmed there will be mobile road barriers set up at both events, and that 300 extra officers will be deployed between Friday and Sunday to ensure public safety. 'We will have a high-visibility presence throughout the city in a variety of events,' Addison said. 'We're doing this to provide comfort and assurance to people, to deter crime, and to respond if something happens.' Heading into summer, with more massive events such as Pride and the Celebration of Light, the Vancouver Police Department will continue working with the organizers and city staff to 'do everything that we can' to keep the public safe, Addison said. 'We can't cage this city up, we can't bubble-wrap people,' he said. 'It's not reasonable or practical to put a police officer on every corner, and people don't want to see that. We can only worry about the things that we can control as a police agency.'
CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
Bible group called 911 about man later arrested in ramming of Vancouver arena, police say
Social Sharing Vancouver police say the suspect in a vehicle ramming at the Pacific Coliseum Thursday night had been the subject of a 911 call earlier that day from a Bible study group. Sgt. Steve Addison says the man was reportedly acting erratically at the church, but he left before officers encountered him. Addison says the 30-year-old Vancouver man had no prior interactions with local authorities on either criminal or mental health grounds. The man was detained after a BMW sedan crashed into the Pacific Coliseum in East Vancouver during a Cirque du Soleil show at around 8 p.m. Thursday. No one was injured in the incident, with Addison calling it a "miracle" given the number of people inside and outside the arena at the time. WATCH | Man arrested after ramming car into Vancouver arena: Vancouver man arrested after vehicle driven into Pacific Coliseum 3 hours ago Duration 1:05 Vancouver police have arrested a 30-year-old man after a vehicle was driven into the entrance of the Pacific Coliseum Thursday night. Police say a Cirque de Soleil show was taking place inside and it was a "miracle" no one was hurt. Addison says the man is being held under the Mental Health Act, and it's believed he was suffering a "significant" crisis when the ramming happened. Police are not identifying him because he has not been criminally charged. Police presence at weekend events The incident came 40 days after an SUV plowed through a crowd at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival, also in East Vancouver, and killed 11 while injuring scores of others. Addison said there was no evidence the latest ramming was linked to terrorism or copied the Lapu Lapu festival attack, but police understand that the public may be fearful given similarities between the two incidents. He said that is why police are ensuring safety at events this weekend — including the B.C. Lions' season opener on Saturday and the Italian Day festival on Commercial Drive — by deploying more than 300 additional officers, as well as vehicle barriers. The barriers were seen being installed on Commercial Drive on Friday ahead of the Italian cultural festival. "We fully understand that as soon as this vehicle struck the Coliseum last night, the first thing that was going to be in people's minds was a flashback to what happened 40 days earlier at the Filipino Lapu Lapu festival," Addison said. "That's the natural reaction. "If I have a message for people, it's please know that we're doing everything that we can, in our power, working with our partners to mitigate risks, to make this summer as safe as possible."
National Post
2 days ago
- National Post
Police investigating after vehicle crashes into Cirque du Soleil arena in Vancouver
FILE: Caution tape is backdropped by police lights on Jan. 27, 2020. Photo by Tim Krochak / Saltwire Vancouver police say it's a 'miracle' no one was injured after a vehicle crashed into the Pacific Coliseum arena on Thursday evening. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Police say a vehicle drove into the front entrance of the building around 8 p.m. while a Cirque du Soleil show was taking place. They say a 30-year-old Vancouver man has been arrested under the Mental Health Act and the crash does not appear to be an act of terrorism. In a post to social media platform X, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says he's grateful that no one was hurt. Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again Sgt. Steve Addison told Global News that police don't believe there's a link between this and the Lapu Lapu Day Festival attack in Vancouver. The ramming attack at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival on April 26 killed 11 people and injured dozens more. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Globe and Mail
Man arrested after vehicle driven into Vancouver Cirque du Soleil arena, no one injured
Vancouver police say a man has been arrested after a vehicle was driven into the Pacific Coliseum arena while a Cirque du Soleil show was taking place. They said no one was injured and the crash does not appear to be an act of terrorism, or related to the Lapu Lapu Day attack that took place in April. Police said on social media that the incident happened just after 8 p.m. Thursday. They said the 30-year-old man from Vancouver was apprehended under the Mental Health Act. Photographs shared on social media show a dark-coloured sedan with its front end crumpled at what appears to be the entrance of the arena in East Vancouver. The crash comes 40 days after a ramming attack on the Lapu Lapu Day festival in Vancouver that killed 11 people and injured dozens. Sergeant Steve Addison told Global News outside the arena that Thursday's incident did not appear to be related to the Lapu Lapu attack. He said it was 'a miracle' that nobody was killed or seriously hurt, given that so many people were inside and around the arena at the time. 'We do believe that this person was in the midst of some sort of mental-health break or episode when this happened,' Addison said. He said that the investigation was only hours old, 'but what I can tell you is that we don't believe this is a copycat episode.' He acknowledged that the incident was alarming, occurring in the wake of the April attack. 'It's definitely going to bring back those emotions and that level of anxiety that our entire community has been experiencing for over a month now,' he said.
