At a street festival in Vancouver, a man drove his car into a crowd and killed and injured several people. This was confirmed by a representative of the Canadian police in front of journalists on the night of Sunday, but did not want to give any specific figures. Not all families have been informed yet.
“There is no further danger to the public,” emphasized the police representative. The suspicious driver is in custody. It is a 30 -year -old man who was known to the police. The incident took place around 8 p.m. local time. A black car with a damaged front could be seen in photos that police officers examine. There was initially no further information about possible backgrounds. At the moment, however, one is confident that it was not a terrorist act, the police Vancouver wrote on the X.
Eyewitnesses previously reported on a happy street festival with thousands of visitors. A radio station reported, citing an eyewitness, suddenly screams had been heard when an off -road vehicle drove through the crowd and hit more than a dozen people. The driver is said to have tried to flee on foot. However, it was held by several people.
“I am shaken by the terrible events”
According to media reports, the festival is the so-called Lapu Lapu Festival, which is considered a large Filipino feast and takes place annually. Lapu Lapu is a Filipino national hero. In 1521 he prevented the colonization of the archipelago. April 27th in the Canadian province of British Columbia has been officially the Lapu-Lapu Day since 2023.
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said shocked: “I am shaken about the terrible events at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver tonight”, he wrote on the platform X. He spoke to the relatives of the killed and injured, the Filipino-Canadian community and all people in Vancouver his deepest condolence. “We all mourn with them.” Carney wrote that the situation would continue to be observed closely. He also thanked the first aiders for their quick action. The parliamentary elections will take place in Canada on Monday.
The chief of the conservative, Pierre Poilievre, wrote on X: “My thoughts are in the Filipino community and all victims of this senseless attack.” He also thanked the first aiders, “while we are waiting for more information”. And the mayor of Vancouver, Ken Sim, wrote on X, he was shocked and sad about the incident. “Our thoughts are in Vancouver in this incredibly difficult time for all those affected and the Filipino community.”
Local politicians told CityNew's Vancouver television station that there has never been a similar incident in the city. Around 700,000 people live in the city on the west coast of Canada.
