Vancouver’s interim police chief, Steve Rai, addressed reporters on Sunday, saying that there are now 11 confirmed deaths from the car-ramming attack, with the death toll expected to rise in the coming days.
Rai added that dozens more are injured, with some sustaining serious injuries. Victims have been transported by ambulance to nine hospitals across metro Vancouver. The victims are both male and female and “young people” are among them, Rai said.
The Lapu Lapu Day festival where hundreds of attendees were gathered was scheduled to end at 8pm PT, but there were still hundreds out on the street at the time.
Rai did not identify the suspect publicly since charges have not been filed but said that he “does have a significant history of interactions with police and healthcare professionals related to mental health”.
“For terrorism, there should be some political, religious ideology behind it. There are no indicators that this individual had that,” he said, adding that the suspect is a “Vancouver resident”.
He also said that police had consulted with city and festival organizers and determined that a heavy police presence was not needed at the festival.
Police will now work with city officials to “review all of the circumstances surrounding the planning of this event”.
Key events
Several people were killed when a driver ploughed a car into a crowd at a street festival on Saturday in Vancouver. Police said they were investigating a ‘mass casualty incident’ and that a 30-year-old man from Vancouver had been arrested at the scene:
Speaking to CBC News, Sheldon Nipshank, a witness at the car-ramming attack, told the outlet that he was walking to the school field to see Filipino American rapper Apl.de.ap perform.
“But the music wasn’t playing no more, obviously,” Nipshank said.
He went on to say that as he walked along a fence near a sidewalk, he started to see “bodies and injured people”.
He added that he heard a woman yelling that she could not feel her legs and that he saw paramedics performing CPR on someone else.
“They were going pretty hard trying to save his life,” he said, adding: “It was pretty traumatic.”
Here are some images coming through the newswires from Vancouver:
Festival organizer calls attack a ‘horrific tragedy’ and warns against misinformation
Lapu Lapu Day’s festival organizer, RJ Aquino, has released a statement following the car-ramming attack, saying:
“We’ve been making sure our family, friends, volunteers, and community partners who helped make the event a success are accounted for and are OK.
The team has been working with city officials and first responders in the aftermath of all this. We’re in the process of coordinating our next steps.
Filipino BC and the Lapu Lapu Day team has received many offers of support and sympathy. At this time, we are actively figuring out a transparent process to ensure accountability in channeling resources to those in need.”
He also warned against material that has been circulating following the attack, including apparent Google Docs aggregating people’s personal information.
He said:
“It’s a great concern that things are circulating that haven’t been vetted and it’s not clear who’s attempting to collect people’s information as in who is the individual that created these Google Docs.
It’s fully understandable that there’s an immediate reaction to wanting to spread seemingly helpful information but we want to ensure that we lead with transparency and accountability. I have no idea who the owner is of those Google Docs and have zero visibility into what information has been collected and that should raise red flags for anyone who cares about the public good.”
Mable Elmore, a member of the legislative assembly of British Columbia, just addressed reporters, saying:
“I’m heartbroken and our thoughts and our love are with the casualties, their families, those injured, our volunteers. Our priority now in the Filipino community is providing support to those people.”
Elmore, who said that the event took place just outside her office, went on to add:
“We are collectively shattered but we are coming together as a community.”
Vancouver’s interim police chief, Steve Rai, addressed reporters on Sunday, saying that there are now 11 confirmed deaths from the car-ramming attack, with the death toll expected to rise in the coming days.
Rai added that dozens more are injured, with some sustaining serious injuries. Victims have been transported by ambulance to nine hospitals across metro Vancouver. The victims are both male and female and “young people” are among them, Rai said.
The Lapu Lapu Day festival where hundreds of attendees were gathered was scheduled to end at 8pm PT, but there were still hundreds out on the street at the time.
Rai did not identify the suspect publicly since charges have not been filed but said that he “does have a significant history of interactions with police and healthcare professionals related to mental health”.
“For terrorism, there should be some political, religious ideology behind it. There are no indicators that this individual had that,” he said, adding that the suspect is a “Vancouver resident”.
He also said that police had consulted with city and festival organizers and determined that a heavy police presence was not needed at the festival.
Police will now work with city officials to “review all of the circumstances surrounding the planning of this event”.
“For terrorism, there should be some political, religious ideology behind it. There are no indicators that this individual had that,” police said.
They added that the suspect is a “Vancouver resident”.
Police went on to say that the suspect is in “custody with us in a secure cell”.
They added that “we’re familiar with him” and that “he is known to us”.
Eleven confirmed deaths in Vancouver car-ramming attack – police
Police have confirmed that there are now 11 deaths in the Vancouver car-ramming attack.
In a press conference on Sunday, Vancouver police said that those injured were transported by ambulance to nine different hospitals through metro Vancouver.
Interim Vancouver police chief Steve Rai said “the person we have in custody does have a significant history of interactions with police and health-care professionals related to mental health”.
They also believe that the evidence currently at hand “does not lead us to believe this was an act of terrorism”.
Charges have yet to be filed.
Former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has also expressed his condolences over the attack, saying on X:
My heart goes out to the loved ones of all the victims of the tragic attack at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver.
I join all Canadians in standing with the Filipino community at this difficult time.
Mary Simon, governor general of Canada has released the following statement regarding the car-ramming attack:
My husband, Whit and I extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the tragic attack that occurred at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver. A joyous celebration of Filipino culture, community and heritage ended in loss of life and serious injuries as a result of a horrific act.
I also want to express my gratitude to all the first responders who rushed to the scene of the incident; your courage, dedication, and swift action in the face of such devastation are deeply appreciated.
Here are some images coming through the newswires from Vancouver:
Mark Carney finished his address by saying the strength and resilience of the Filipino community is highlighted by the term bayanihan, a tradition of helping out your neighbour in a spirit of civic mindedness.
“We will comfort the grieving, we will care for each other, we will unite in common purpose, “ he said.
Carney’s speech is over but stick with us as we will continue to bring you the latest developments about the attack.
A news conference with the Vancouver Police is expected to be held at 10:00 in Vancouver (17:00 GMT, 18:00 BST) – and we will be covering that live.
Families of victims are ‘living every family’s nightmare’ – PM
Mark Carney said:
Last night, families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father a son or a daughter.
Those families are living every family’s nightmare. And to them and to the many others who were injured, to the Filipino Canadian community and to everyone in the broader lower mainland – Vancouver – I would like to offer my deepest condolences and my wishes for strength and compassion in this tragic time.
I know that I join all Canadians in mourning with you. I know that Canadians are united with you.
PM describes deadly Vancouver incident as ‘car ramming attack’, citing police
Carney says that the police are calling the incident – in which at least 9 people were killed and more than 20 others injured – a “car ramming attack”.
The prime minister thanked emergency responders and says an investigation is ongoing to understand how and why the attack occurred.
Current evidence suggests there is no ‘active threat to Canadians’ – PM
Mark Carney said overnight he was briefed by his national security and intelligence adviser and the public safety minister about the situation.
He said, based on current evidence, there is no “active threat to Canadians”. The prime minister added that his ministers are “closely engaged” with local law enforcement, along with provincial and municipal officials.
Canadian prime minister Mark Carney gives statement on deadly Vancouver incident
Mark Carney is speaking now. The prime minister said, along with the rest of the country, he was “shocked, devasted and heartbroken” to hear of the news of the deadly incident in Vancouver.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to make a statement about the deadly incident shortly.
Rebecca Ratcliffe
Rebecca Ratcliffe is the Guardian’s Southeast Asia correspondent
Migrante BC, a non-profit organisation that advocates for the rights of migrant Filipino workers, said it was “deeply shaken and saddened by the tragic events that took place tonight at the Lapu-Lapu Day block party in Vancouver”.
It said:
As a Filipino organization rooted in the community, we are devastated to hear of the injuries suffered by our fellow kababayan [fellow Filipinos], including seniors and children. While details are still being verified, our thoughts, love, and solidarity are with all the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this tragedy.
This was meant to be a celebration of our history and unity. Instead, it has become a moment of deep grief and concern for our community.
We call on the Filipino community to come together — to offer strength, compassion, and support to one another during this difficult time. Migrante BC stands ready to assist in any way we can and to support efforts for healing and accountability.
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