The police have provided new details about a ‘mass casualty incident’ that took place in Vancouver, Canada, yesterday evening.
People gathered for the Lapu Lapu Festival on April 26, but the celebration turned tragic when an SUV driver ran down several attendees.
The festival commemorates Datu Lapu-Lapu, an Indigenous Visayan Chieftain from Mactan in the Philippines.
In a social media update, the Vancouver Police Department stated: “A number of people have been killed and multiple others are injured after a driver drove into a crowd at a street festival at E. 41st Avenue and Fraser shortly after 8 p.m. [last night]. We will provide more information as the investigation unfolds.”
Currently, authorities have confirmed the deaths of nine individuals, following earlier reports of multiple fatalities.
“As of now, we can confirm nine people have died after a man drove through a crowd at last night’s Lapu Lapu Festival,” law enforcement noted. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic incident.”
The exact number of those injured has not been disclosed by the police.
A 30-year-old local man was taken into custody at the scene. He is reported to have had previous interactions with law enforcement.
While the investigation is ongoing, officials have indicated that the act is not believed to be terrorism-related.
James Cruzat, a local business owner present at the event, described hearing a car engine rev and then a loud noise, which he initially mistook for a gunshot.
“We saw people on the road crying, others were like running, shouting, or even screaming, asking for help,” he recounted to PA. “We tried to go there just to check what was really actually happening until we found some bodies on the ground. Others were lifeless, others injured.
“It was terrible to see that kind of incident, that situation. It was heartbreaking.
“I couldn’t even imagine that it’s actually happening in real life, because normally we see that on TVs or movies. But when you are in that kind situation, it was really shocking. Like, you couldn’t think really, really well. You couldn’t do anything but to pray for them.”
Yoseb Vardeh, co-owner of the Bao Buns food truck who witnessed the event, estimated the vehicle reached speeds of 100km/h (62mph).
“I think he was going for maximum damage,” he told the BBC. “I just saw bodies underneath people’s food trucks, and husbands crying out for their wife, or their kids, it was just horrible.”
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