Several people killed, others injured after vehicle drives into Vancouver street festival crowd | CBC News

The latest:

• Filipino community festival was wrapping up when SUV ploughed into crowd.
• A 30-year-old Vancouver man is in custody.
• Eyewitness says driver “just slammed the pedal down and rammed into hundreds of people.”
• Support line set up for victims.

Vancouver police say several people have been killed and multiple others injured after a driver of a black SUV drove into a crowd at a street festival Saturday evening.

The incident happened shortly after 8 p.m. near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, where the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party was taking place.

Police say a 30-year-old Vancouver man is now in custody. 

Vancouver Coastal Health told The Canadian Press it had confirmed a “code orange,” indicating a mass casualty event. The health authority was not able to confirm the number of injured or dead as of late Saturday night.

Earlier, videos posted on social media showed emergency crews at the scene, with several people lying on the ground — some appearing injured. 

Interim police Chief Steve Rai, in a midnight news briefing said the event had been assessed and monitored for security in co-ordination with other stakeholders.

He did not say whether the suspect was known to police. The investigation is ongoing and is being led by the Vancouver police major crime section.

Lapu Lapu Day is named after an Indigenous resistance fighter in the Philippines who fought against Spanish colonization in the 16th Century.

Saturday’s event was the second annual street celebration of the day in Vancouver, and organizers had said it was an opportunity to mark “the enduring impact on Filipino values, notably the spirit of bayanihan — the collective community effort.”

‘It was like a war zone’

Kris Pangilinan, a Toronto-based journalist, flew to Vancouver to attend the Lapu Lapu Day celebrations. He described the event as a beautiful day filled with wonderful performances — but said the aftermath has left him shaken.

“It’s something you don’t expect to see in your lifetime,” he told CBC’s Stephen Quinn.

Pangilinan said the show was wrapping up, and the festival’s main act — Filipino-American rapper Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas — had already finished his set. Crews were in the process of tearing down the stage, tents and vendor stalls when the incident happened.

He said crews lifted a barricade that had been blocking traffic to allow a vehicle to enter. While some cars were being guided carefully through the crowds, Pangilinan said one car suddenly sped up and struck a person.

“Then we realized what was happening and everybody started yelling,” he said. “[The driver] just slammed the pedal down and rammed into hundreds of people. It was like seeing a bowling ball hit — all the bowling pins and all the pins flying up in the air.”

Pangilinan, who has previously worked in news, said witnessing the attack in person was overwhelming.

“As someone who worked in news, you get numb to seeing these things — but seeing it in real life is just shocking,” he said.

“It was like a war zone.… There were bodies all over the ground,” he said, adding he saw “countless” people injured.

Another eyewitness, Joshua Polintan, expressed his anger over what happened.

“I am mad at whoever did that because why would you do that?” he said. “I don’t know if it was a hate crime,… but it was just wrong.”

Organizer says support available

In a statement posted on Instagram, Filipino BC said it was devastated by the tragedy and urged those affected to seek help.

“We are still finding the words to express the deep heartbreak brought on by this senseless tragedy. We are devastated for the families and victims,” the post read.

The organization encouraged community members to check in with one another and access available mental health resources.

“Victim services are available 24/7 for those who witnessed or experienced trauma by calling or texting 1-800-563-0808 or emailing 211-victimlinkbc@uwbc.ca.”

Mayor, politicians react

The NDP made a campaign stop right before the incident happened.

In a statement posted on X, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he was “horrified to learn of an incident at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day celebrations that injured and killed innocent people.” 

He said his thoughts are with the victims, their families and Vancouver’s Filipino community, “who were coming together today to celebrate resilience.”

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said in a statement that he was “shocked and deeply saddened” by what he called a “horrific incident” at the festival. 

“Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time,” he said.

B.C. Premier David Eby said in a post to social media platform X that he’s “shocked and heartbroken” to hear about the lives lost and those injured at the festival.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also took to X stating that he was “shocked” by the “horrific news” emerging from the festival at Vancouver. 

“My thoughts are with the Filipino community and all the victims targeted by this senseless attack,” he said. 

“Thank you to the first responders who are at the scene as we wait to hear more,” he said.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney said he is “devastated” and offered his condolences to the “loved ones of those killed and injured.”

“We are monitoring the situation closely, and thankful to our first responders.”

Vancouver Sun Run to go as planned

The Vancouver Sun Run, one of the biggest 10-kilometre runs in North America, is scheduled for Sunday. The event is expected to see tens of thousands of participants.

Interim police Chief Rai said the event will take place as planned.

“There’s no change…. We will have a full robust deployment and it will occur as planned with security,” he said.