VANCOUVER, British Columbia — A person drove a car right into a crowd at a Filipino heritage competition within the Canadian metropolis of Vancouver on Saturday evening, killing 11 folks and injuring greater than 20 others. The assault shook the nation forward of federal elections.
The car entered the road at 8:14 p.m. Saturday and struck folks attending the Lapu Lapu Day competition, the Vancouver Police Division mentioned in a social media publish.
A Vancouver man was arrested. Police mentioned they’re assured that it’s not an act of terrorism.
“An investigation is ongoing to determine how and why this horrific attack occurred. Authorities have confirmed one person is custody and it is believed they acted alone,” mentioned Prime Minister Mark Carney, who canceled his first marketing campaign occasion on the ultimate day of the election marketing campaign forward of Monday’s vote.
Video of the aftermath exhibits the useless and injured alongside a slim avenue in South Vancouver lined by meals vehicles. The entrance of the driving force’s SUV is smashed in.
Kris Pangilinan, who introduced his pop-up clothes and way of life sales space to the competition, noticed the car enter previous the barricade slowly earlier than the driving force slammed on the fuel in an space that was filled with folks after a live performance. He mentioned listening to the sounds of our bodies hitting the car won’t ever go away his thoughts.
“He slammed on the gas, barreled through the crowd. And 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,” Pangilinan mentioned. “It looked like a bowling ball hitting bowling pins and all the pins are flying into the air.”
Suspect detained by bystanders
A 30-year-old Vancouver man was arrested on the scene, police mentioned.
“We are confident that this incident was not an act of terrorism,” the police division posted early Sunday.
Video circulating on social media exhibits a younger man in a black hoodie along with his again towards a chain-link fence, alongside a safety guard and surrounded by bystanders screaming and swearing at him.
“I’m sorry,” the person says, holding his hand to his head.
Rai mentioned the particular person in custody was a “lone male” who was “known to police in certain circumstances.”
Carney mentioned authorities don’t consider there may be any lively risk to Canadians.
“Last night families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, father, son or a daughter. Those families are living every family’s nightmare,” Carney mentioned, preventing again tears. “And to them and to the many others who were injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver, I would like to offer my deepest condolences.”
In 2018, a person used a van to kill 10 pedestrians in Toronto. Eight ladies and two males died. Alek Minassian, who was discovered responsible, advised police he was a member of an internet neighborhood of sexually pissed off males, a few of whom have plotted assaults on individuals who have intercourse.
Vancouver Mayor Kenneth Sim wrote in a social media publish that town would offer extra data when potential.
“I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident at today’s Lapu Lapu Day event,” Sim wrote. “Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time.”
