Latest news with #YosebVardeh
NBC News
28-04-2025
- NBC News
What we know about the deadly car ramming at a Vancouver street festival
A packed festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, to celebrate Filipino culture ended in tragedy Saturday night when a vehicle plowed into a crowd, killing 11 people and injuring dozens of others. A 30-year-old man was arrested and charged with several counts of murder in connection with the attack that officials do not believe was an act of terrorism. Here's what we know so far: The crash The attack happened on East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street shortly after 8:14 p.m. local time, police said on X. People were at the Lapu-Lapu Day block party in East Vancouver, an annual event that celebrates the Filipino culture. Yoseb Vardeh, who co-owns a food truck at the festival, told the Vancouver Sun that he heard an engine revving moments before a speeding vehicle drove straight down the middle of a pedestrian-only area. He said when he walked out of his food truck, he saw "bodies everywhere." Clothing vendor Kris Pangilinan told The Associated Press that he heard what sounded "like an F1 car about to start a race" immediately followed by screams. He said he could hear the sound of bodies hitting the hood of the SUV as it sped through the street. "All I can remember is seeing bodies flying up in the air higher than the food trucks themselves and landing on the ground and people yelling and screaming," he said. Adonis Quita, who was with his 9-year-old son, told the AP that the vehicle struck families waiting in line for food. In a video posted on social media, what appears to be the suspect's black SUV is seen stopped in the middle of the street as first responders tend to victims. "Last night, as members of Vancouver's Filipino community gathered for a celebration of community and culture in East Vancouver, their collective safety and security were stolen when a man in a vehicle drove through a festival," the city's interim police chief, Steve Rai, said Sunday. Before the festival, police worked with the city to assess risks and found "no known threats to the event or to the Filipino community," Rai explained. He said that, as a result, it was determined that police officers and heavy vehicle barricades were not necessary at the festival site. Officials said they do not believe the attack was an act of terrorism. Mayor Ken Sim said he was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the incident. "Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver's Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time," he said in a post on X. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney laid flowers at a memorial site. "In this incredibly difficult moment, we will comfort the grieving, care for one another, and unite in common purpose," he said in a post on X. The city said the Canadian flag will be flown at half-mast at all city buildings until further notice to honor the victims. The death toll Eleven people, aged 5 to 65, were killed and more than two dozen others were injured, police said, warning that the death toll could climb. Rai said that victims were taken to nine hospitals. Deana Lancaster, a spokesperson for Vancouver General Hospital, said it had received multiple patients. Authorities have not publicly named the victims. What is Lapu-Lapu Day In 2023, the province of British Columbia declared April 27 to be Lapu-Lapu Day to celebrate the legacy of Datu Lapu-Lapu, a fearless Indigenous Visayan Chieftain who was the first to rise against the tide of Spanish colonization, the festival's website states. He is often regarded as the first national hero of the Philippines. Last year was the inaugural block party. Headliners for the event were Filipino-American artists and J. Rey Soul from the group Black Eyed Peas. said he and J. Rey Soul had just finished performing and left the stage minutes before the crash. "It's hard to describe the shock and the heaviness we feel," he wrote on Instagram. "Please keep the victims, their families, and the organizers in your prayers. They need all the love and strength right now. The one thing I have noticed — from the audience to the messages sent around, is the sense of community that wraps its loving arms around us. We love you all." "We came to Vancouver to celebrate and be with our beyond words to learn about the tragedy that unfolded," J. Rey Soul said. "Still in shock. Thoughts and prayers to everyone and all the families affected. Sending love and prayers to all the Filipinos in BC." Filipino BC said in a statement on Instagram: "We are still finding the words to express the deep heartbreak brought on by this senseless tragedy. We are devastated for the families and victims." The suspect Police identified the driver as 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo. He's been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, and police say further charges are anticipated. Authorities said the suspect is a Vancouver resident who has a history of mental illness, and he is known to police. Mayor Sim said officials believe "that mental health appears to be the underlying issue here."
Calgary Herald
27-04-2025
- Calgary Herald
'Bodies everywhere': At least 11 people killed, many injured after vehicle driven into crowd in Vancouver
Article content Police said in an update posted on X early Sunday morning: 'As of now, we can confirm nine people have died after a man drove through a crowd at last night's Lapu Lapu festival. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic incident.' Article content As of Sunday at 6 a.m, Fraser Street between 41st and 49th remained closed to allow room for the police investigation; TransLink buses continued to be rerouted to Main Street. Article content A 24-hour support centre was set up at Douglas Park Community Centre to help connect people with loved ones who were attending the festival. Article content Article content Videos posted to social media show the immediate aftermath, with bodies strewn across the road and being tended to by first responders and bystanders. Victims were rushed to several local hospitals, where staff were told to prepare for mass casualties. Article content Article content Yoseb Vardeh is the co-owner of the food truck Bao Buns, which had been stationed at the festival all day. Article content In a phone interview late Saturday, Vardeh spoke through tears to describe what had been 'an incredible day' that ended in shock and terror. Article content 'I didn't get to see the driver, all I heard was an engine rev. It didn't make any sense to me because there's still people here, like, it sounded like a car speeding. It didn't make any f—ing sense,' he said. Article content Article content Vardeh said the final performance had just ended and that many food trucks, including his, had stayed past the event's closing time to serve last-minute customers who were still enjoying the evening. Article content Article content It was then that the truck, according to Vardeh, came from the direction of nearby John Oliver Secondary School, drove past a number of market vendors, and sped up before driving down 43rd Avenue, which had been turned into a pedestrian-only area flanked on both sides by food trucks. Article content 'I got outside my food truck, I looked down the road and there's just bodies everywhere,' said Vardeh, as his voice broke. 'He went through the whole block, he went straight down the middle.' Article content Vardeh said he's unsure how the truck was stopped but said he saw a man being arrested and that police worked quickly to cordon off the area. Vardeh said the man was telling bystanders to stop filming him. Article content
Calgary Herald
27-04-2025
- Calgary Herald
'Bodies everywhere': Nine people killed, many injured after vehicle driven into crowd in Vancouver
Article content As of midnight, Fraser Street between 43rd and 46th remained closed to allow room for first responders to work. A 24-hour support centre was also set up at Douglas Park Community Centre to help connect individuals who were not able to contact a loved one in attendance at the festival. Article content Article content Videos posted to social media show the immediate aftermath, with bodies strewn across the road and being tended to by first responders and bystanders. Victims were rushed to several local hospitals, where staff were told to prepare for mass casualties. Article content Yoseb Vardeh is the co-owner of the food truck Bao Buns, which had been stationed at the festival all day. Article content In a phone interview late Saturday with Postmedia, Vardeh spoke through tears to describe what had been 'an incredible day' that ended in shock and terror. Article content Article content 'I didn't get to see the driver, all I heard was an engine rev. It didn't make any sense to me because there's still people here, like, it sounded like a car speeding. It didn't make any f—ing sense,' he said. Article content Article content Vardeh said the final performer had just ended and that many food trucks, including his, had stayed past the event's closing time to serve last-minute customers who were still enjoying the evening. Article content It was then that the truck, according to Vardeh, came from the direction of nearby John Oliver Secondary School, drove past a number of market vendors, and sped up before driving down 43rd Avenue, which had been turned into a pedestrian-only area flanked on both sides by food trucks. Article content Article content 'I got outside my food truck, I looked down the road and there's just bodies everywhere,' said Vardeh, as his voice broke. 'He went through the whole block, he went straight down the middle.' Article content Vardeh said he's unsure how the truck was stopped but said he saw a man being arrested and that police worked quickly to cordon off the area. Vardeh said the man being arrested was telling bystanders to stop filming him. Article content Article content Vardeh, who is half Filipino and was attending the festival for his second year, told his staff to pack up and go home. Article content 'I didn't break down until I got home to my family just five minutes ago,' he said. 'This is something that happens in the States, not here. Article content 'I saw so many people, and they just couldn't believe what was happening. It was their wife, it was their mom, it was their kid,' he said. 'All these people were shocked, walking around and they didn't know what the f— to do.
Ottawa Citizen
27-04-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
'Bodies everywhere': Multiple people killed, injured at Lapu Lapu Day in Vancouver
Article content As of midnight, Fraser Street between 43rd and 46th remained closed to allow room for first responders to work. Article content Article content Videos posted to social media show the immediate aftermath, with bodies strewn across the road, being tended to by first responders and bystanders. Victims were rushed to several local hospitals, where staff were told to prepare for mass casualties. Article content Yoseb Vardeh is the co-owner of the food truck Bao Buns, which had been stationed at the festival all day. Article content In a phone interview Saturday with Postmedia, Vardeh spoke through tears to describe what had been 'an incredible day' that ended in shock and terror. Article content 'I didn't get to see the driver, all I heard was an engine rev. It didn't make any sense to me because there's still people here, like, it sounded like a car speeding. It didn't make any f—ing sense,' he said. Article content Article content 'And then I look up and there's people flying. It just happened so f—ing fast.' Article content Vardeh said the final performer had just ended and that many food trucks, including his, had stayed past the event's closing time to serve last-minute customers who were still enjoying the evening. Article content It was then that the truck, according to Vardeh, came from the direction of nearby John Oliver Secondary School, drove past a number of market vendors, and sped up before driving down 43rd Avenue, which had been turned into a pedestrian-only area flanked on both sides by food trucks. Article content 'I got outside my food truck, I looked down the road and there's just bodies everywhere,' said Vardeh, as his voice broke. 'He went through the whole block, he went straight down the middle.' Article content Article content Vardeh said he's unsure how the truck was stopped but said he saw a man being arrested and that police worked quickly to cordon off the area. Vardeh said the man being arrested was telling bystanders to stop filming him. Article content Article content Vardeh, who is half Filipino and was attending the festival for his second year, told his staff to pack up and go home. Article content 'I didn't break down until I got home to my family just five minutes ago,' he said. 'This is something that happens in the States, not here. Article content 'I saw so many people, and they just couldn't believe what was happening. It was their wife, it was their mom, it was their kid,' he said. 'All these people were shocked, walking around and they didn't know what the f— to do.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nine people killed as car ploughs into Vancouver festival crowd
Nine people were killed and others injured when a driver ploughed a car into a crowd at a street festival in the Canadian city of Vancouver, local police have said. Police said they were confident that the incident on Saturday was not an act of terrorism. A 30-year-old man who was driving a black SUV was arrested. 'We can confirm nine people have died after a man drove through a crowd at last night's Lapu Lapu festival. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic incident, Vancouver police posted online. The incident happened shortly after 8pm as members of the city's Filipino community gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day. The festival commemorates a Filipino anticolonial leader from the 16th century. Footage posted online showed a black SUV with a damaged bonnet parked on a street littered with debris as first-aiders tended to people lying on the ground. One witness told CTV News he saw a vehicle driving erratically in the area of the festival just before the crowd was hit. The Vancouver Sun said thousands of people had been in the area. 'I didn't get to see the driver, all I heard was an engine rev,' said Yoseb Vardeh, a food truck operator, in an interview with Postmedia. 'I got outside my food truck, I looked down the road and there's just bodies everywhere. He went through the whole block, he went straight down the middle.' The Vancouver mayor, Ken Sim, said: 'Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver's Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time.' The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, said he was devastated at the news. 'I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver,' he wrote on X. 'We are all mourning with you.' The incident happened just before Canadians go to the polls on Monday after a frenetic election race where candidates have wooed voters on issues including rising living costs and tackling Donald Trump's tariffs. Carney is favoured to win after promising voters he would stand up to Washington's sweeping import levies. Police set up a 24-hour assistance centre to help anyone who had been unable to contact relatives or friends who were at the festival. Lapu Lapu Day is celebrated in the Philippines in remembrance of the Indigenous chief Lapulapu, who led his men to defeat the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in battle in 1521.
