Several people were killed and others injured Saturday evening when a vehicle drove into a large crowd at a street festival in Vancouver, according to police. Authorities are describing the event as a “mass casualty incident.”
A 30-year-old Vancouver man was arrested at the scene, the Vancouver Police Department said in a social media post.
The crowd had gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day, Mayor Ken Sim said in a statement. The incident occurred around 8:14 p.m. in the South Vancouver neighborhood, when a vehicle rammed into festivalgoers, police said.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time,” Sim said, describing the incident as “horrific.”
The block party celebrating Filipino culture and Lapu-Lapu, a national hero of the Philippines, had been scheduled to run through 8 p.m. on Saturday, according to the organizers.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “devastated by the horrific events” at the festival.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver,” he said in a statement. “We are all mourning with you. We are closely monitoring the situation and are grateful to our first responders for their swift action.”
Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party, who spoke at the festival, said he was “horrified to learn of an incident at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day celebrations that injured and killed innocent people.”
“As we wait to learn more, our thoughts are with the victims and their families — and Vancouver’s Filipino community, who were coming together today to celebrate resilience,” he said in a statement.
