Canadian police have filed murder charges against a 30-year-old man accused of ramming his car through a street festival in Vancouver, killing at least 11 people and injuring several more. The tragic incident occurred during celebrations for a major Filipino event.
What happened at the Vancouver festival?
At 8:14pm local time on Saturday (03:14 GMT Sunday), a man drove into a crowd gathered for Lapu-Lapu Day celebrations, according to Vancouver police. The festival’s main act had just ended, and crews were dismantling the stage, tents, and vendor stalls. A barricade blocking traffic had been lifted to allow a vehicle through when a black SUV suddenly sped into the area, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported.
Witnesses said they heard the vehicle rev its engine before ploughing into the crowd. Photos of the SUV circulated online, showing visible front-end damage.
A witness, speaking anonymously to Reuters, described how the driver attempted to flee but was chased down by festival-goers and held against a fence for about 10 minutes until police arrived and arrested him.
Advanced life support ambulances were deployed to the scene, where bodies were seen lying on the ground.
By about 1am on Sunday (08:00 GMT), Vancouver police ruled out “an act of terrorism” as the motive but continued their investigation.
Who is the suspect?
The arrested suspect was identified as Kai-Ji Adam Lo, a 30-year-old resident of Vancouver. Prosecutors said Lo has had mental health challenges in the past. Interim Vancouver police chief Steve Rai stated that Lo had a “significant history” of interactions with police and mental health care professionals.
Lo appeared in court hours after his arrest and remains in custody. Rai confirmed that police believe Lo acted alone. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim also commented that “mental health appears to be the underlying issue here.”
Where did the crash happen?
The crash occurred near the intersection of East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street in Vancouver, a city in British Columbia known for its scenic beauty and diversity. Vancouver is home to 662,248 people and has Canada’s second-largest Filipino community after Toronto.
What is the Lapu-Lapu Day festival?
Lapu-Lapu Day celebrates the Filipino Indigenous leader Datu Lapu-Lapu, who resisted Spanish colonization. On April 27, 1521, he famously led his men to defeat Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan.
British Columbia officially recognized Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023. Saturday marked the second year Filipino groups in Vancouver organized a block party for the occasion, featuring a parade, film screening, dancing, and a concert. Two members of the Black Eyed Peas were among those scheduled to perform.
What do we know about the victims?
Police confirmed that 11 people were killed, while the exact number of injured remains unclear. Victims were transported to multiple hospitals across the region.
A 24-hour assistance centre has been set up at Douglas Park Community Centre for those affected, and police and victim services professionals are helping individuals searching for missing friends or family.
Reactions to the tragedy
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his sorrow, saying, “I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver.”
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Carney’s election opponent, said he was “shocked by the horrific news” in a social media post.
Philippine Senate President Francis Escudero condemned the incident and urged the Philippine consulate in Vancouver to provide assistance to victims and their families.
