Driver arrested as festival goers killed in Vancouver Filipino festival

By Alex P. Vidal

 

A 20-year-old Filipino-Chinese male driver is now in police custody after he plowed his black car into a crowd at a street festival celebrating Filipino heritage in Vancouver on April 26, Saturday night, reportedly killing 16 and injuring more than 40, sources said.

The driver was reportedly suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and was recently discharged from the University of British Columbia (UBC) mental health.  

THE SUSPECTED DRIVER

In a statement on X, the Vancouver Police Department reported,

“A number of people have been killed, and multiple others are injured after a driver drove into a crowd at a street festival.”

It added, the incident happened shortly after 8 p.m local time.

Videos from the event organizers on Instagram showed lively cultural dances and song performances throughout the day, with several food trucks and market booths lining both side of the street, reported the CNN.

“Many families with young children were seen among the attendees.” reported the US news network.

Reuters photos from the aftermath of the incident showed paramedics and ambulances at the scene, with police cordons visible.

Prime Minister Mark Carney mourned the dead and wounded, calling the ramming “horrific” in a statement on X, added the CNN.

“I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver. We are all mourning with you,” he wrote as reported by CNN.

Vancouver’s mayor also offered condolences.

“I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident at today’s Lapu Lapu Day event,” Ken Sim wrote on X as reported by CNN.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time.”

Sim was expected to provide more information on the incident.