Police are investigating a “mass casualty incident” wherein “a number of individuals have been killed” after a automotive was pushed right into a crowd in Vancouver.
Authorities within the Canadian metropolis mentioned “a number of others” have been injured throughout the incident, which occurred at roughly 20:14 native time on Saturday (03:14 GMT on Sunday) at a avenue competition.
Police mentioned a 30-year-old male suspect was in custody and that they have been “assured that this incident was not an act of terrorism”. It’s unclear how many individuals have been killed.
Police mentioned the suspect had pushed into pedestrians on the annual Lapu Lapu competition, which celebrates Filipino tradition, at East forty third Avenue and Fraser, within the south of Vancouver.
Steve Rai, Vancouver Police’s interim chief, informed a information convention that there had been one car and one suspect concerned within the incident. He mentioned extra particulars could be launched within the morning.
The proprietor of a meals truck promoting bao buns on the competition, Yoseb Vardeh, informed the BBC World Service that the assault occurred proper in entrance of his van.
“This man, he killed a few of my clients,” he mentioned. “There was individuals ready for his or her buns that received hit.”
Mr Vardeh added: “I stepped outdoors of my meals truck and I simply noticed our bodies beneath individuals’s meals vehicles, husbands crying out for his or her wives or their children… It was simply horrible.”
Unverified footage posted on social media confirmed a variety of police automobiles, ambulances and fireplace engines on the scene, with injured individuals mendacity on the bottom.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney mentioned in a press release on X that he was “devastated to listen to in regards to the horrific occasions on the Lapu Lapu competition in Vancouver”.
He continued: “I supply my deepest condolences to the family members of these killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian neighborhood, and to everybody in Vancouver. We’re all mourning with you.”
He additionally thanked emergency responders for his or her “swift motion”.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim mentioned he was “shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident”, including in a submit that his “ideas are with all these affected and with Vancouver’s Filipino neighborhood throughout this extremely tough time.”
The leaders of various political events have additionally been sharing messages of condolence.
Pierre Poilievre, chief of Canada’s Conservative Occasion, referred to as the incident a “mindless assault”, whereas the chief of the British Columbia New Democratic Occasion, David Eby, mentioned he was “shocked and heartbroken”.
New Democratic Occasion chief Jagmeet Singh – who had attended the competition however was not current when the incident occurred – mentioned he was “horrified to study” that harmless individuals had been killed and injured.
“As we wait to study extra, our ideas are with the victims and their households – and Vancouver’s Filipino neighborhood, who have been coming collectively at this time to rejoice resilience,” he added.
Singh, Poilievre and Eby are all working in Canada’s federal election on Monday. Singh’s constituency of Burnaby Central lies simply east of the place the incident happened.
