A tragic incident unfolded on Saturday evening in Vancouver, Canada, when a vehicle plowed into a crowd attending the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party, a Filipino community festival. The event, held near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, was celebrating the legacy of Datu Lapu-Lapu, a revered Filipino hero. The attack resulted in at least nine fatalities and multiple injuries.
The suspect, a 30-year-old Vancouver man known to law enforcement, was apprehended at the scene by festival-goers before being taken into custody. Authorities have stated that the incident is not believed to be an act of terrorism.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have both expressed their condolences, highlighting the significance of the tragedy to the Filipino-Canadian community. The festival is especially revered by the large Filipino immigrant population in British Columbia.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with the SUV driving erratically and bodies scattered along the street. Prominent political figure Jagmeet Singh had attended the event and left shortly before the rampage.
The incident has deeply shocked the community, leading to an outpouring of grief and calls for strengthened public safety measures. Investigations are ongoing as officials continue to gather information and provide updates.
Source: Reuters
