At a neighborhood block party last night, a mass casualty incident occurred, resulting in multiple fatalities.
At approximately 8:14 pm on April 26, a man driving an SUV drove into a crowd of people in Vancouver, Canada.
The event was reportedly The Lapu Lapu Day festival, a Filipino community celebration, though the exact number of attendees is unclear.
The Vancouver Police Department confirmed the tragic news in a social media post, stating: “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. tonight. The driver is in custody. We will provide more information as the investigation unfolds.”
Law enforcement later updated that a 30-year-old Vancouver man was apprehended at the scene.
“The investigation is ongoing and is being led by the Vancouver Police Department’s Major Crime Section,” police further noted.
According to witnesses, as reported by BBC News, the man drove ‘completely straight, right through the crowd’.
Yoseb Vardeh, co-owner of the Bao Buns food truck present at the scene, estimated the driver 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.”
The newly-elected Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, expressed his sorrow over the incident, stating he was ‘devastated’.
He wrote on Twitter: “I am devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver earlier this evening. 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.”
Elizabeth May, co-leader of Canada’s Green Party, also shared her thoughts on social media, writing: “My prayers are with Vancouver and its Filipino community as we hold our breath waiting to hear more about the tragedy that took place at Lapu Lapu Day in south Vancouver tonight.”
She continued: “I’m horrified and heartbroken that such an attack could occur, and on an occasion celebrating Filipino culture, resilience, and resistance. I am sending my love to affected families.”
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