The incident occurred at the Lapu Lapu Day festival, leading to the arrest of a suspect who is known to the police.
**Tragedy Strikes Vancouver Filipino Festival: At Least Nine Killed in Incident Involving Vehicle**
**Tragedy Strikes Vancouver Filipino Festival: At Least Nine Killed in Incident Involving Vehicle**
A driver drove into a crowd at a street party in Vancouver, resulting in a mass casualty situation with at least nine fatalities.
A devastating incident unfolded on Saturday evening at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, where a vehicle collided with a crowd of attendees. At least nine individuals lost their lives in what local authorities have termed a "mass casualty incident." The suspect, a 30-year-old man from Vancouver, has been arrested, with police confirming that terrorism has been ruled out as a motive.
The Vancouver police reported that the tragedy occurred around 8:14 p.m. when the driver of a black SUV crashed into the festival-goers near East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street. The annual festival celebrates Datu Lapu Lapu, a historic figure from the Philippines, and attracts many from the local community.
Following the crash, first responders were dispatched to the scene where they found a chaotic situation. Pictures released by news agencies depicted the damaged SUV with deployed airbags, underscoring the severity of the crash. "As of now, we can confirm nine people have died after a man drove through a crowd at last night’s Lapu Lapu Festival," the police communicated via social media.
Interim Police Chief Steve Rai provided further details during a news conference, confirming that the driver was known to them but did not elaborate on a possible motive. He noted that attendees had managed to subdue the driver until police arrived. The incident has left the local community in shock as they mourn the loss of life at a festival meant to celebrate their heritage. The Vancouver police reiterated their thoughts are with those affected by this tragic occurrence.
