• Source:JND
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A joyous celebration turned tragic in Vancouver when a vehicle rammed through a crowded Filipino community festival, killing at least nine people and injuring several others, as reported by Reuters. The incident occurred shortly after 8 pm (local time) near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, during the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party, an event honouring a Philippine national hero. Thousands were reportedly attending the festival when chaos struck.

Eyewitnesses described a horrific scene. "I didn’t get to see the driver, all I heard was an engine rev," said Yoseb Vardeh, a food truck owner, in a tearful interview. "I looked down the road and there were just bodies everywhere. He went through the whole block, he went straight down the middle."

Suspect Arrested

Vancouver police acted swiftly, arresting a 30-year-old man at the scene. Chief Constable Steve Rai confirmed that the suspect, a Vancouver resident, is believed to have acted alone. "One suspect, one vehicle," Rai told reporters. He assured the public that authorities are confident the incident was not an act of terrorism, although the exact motive remains unclear.

When questioned about the suspect's background, Rai said the individual was "known to police in certain circumstances," but declined to elaborate further. "It would be inappropriate for me to get into those kinds of details at this point," he added, emphasising that it would be unfair to comment on whether the man had a criminal record or was on bail.

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The devastating event has drawn widespread grief across Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on X (formerly Twitter): "I am devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu-Lapu festival in Vancouver earlier this evening." Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and British Columbia Premier David Eby also expressed condolences, mourning the loss of life and offering support to the victims' families.

The Lapu-Lapu Day festival holds deep cultural significance for the Filipino-Canadian community, one of the largest immigrant groups in British Columbia. The province officially recognised April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023, celebrating Filipino contributions to Canadian society.

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