Vancouver Car Rampage: Police Rule Out Terror Link in Lapu Lapu Festival Tragedy; 30-Year-Old Suspect in Custody

Vancouver Car Rampage: Reports suggest that several people died after a driver plowed his SUV into a crowd of Filipino festival-goers in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday night, April 26. Many others were injured, report the authorities, as cited by the New York Post. The incident occurred when people were celebrating Lapu Lapu Day, a public holiday in honor of Filipino heritage.

While the authorities are yet to name the suspect, it is said a Vancouver man is in custody. Heavy police presence was on Fraser Street and East 43rd Street with first responders seen treating persons on the road, according to social media videos.

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What we know about the suspect so far

The suspect, a man from Vancouver aged 30, “may have been in an interaction with police just yesterday,” police sources said, according to GlobalBC. He was taken into custody and “apologized” to bystanders. Citing sources, the Vancouver Sun described him as someone with apparent mental health issues.

When asked if police were looking for anyone else, Acting Police Chief Steve Rai replied, "One suspect, one vehicle."

Asked if the suspect has a criminal record, Rai said, per BBC, "It would be inappropriate for me to get into those kind of details at this point.”

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Police are calling the investigation a “mass casualty incident.” Rai added that the suspect was "known to police in certain circumstances" and was arrested by the crowd before police arrived.

When asked if the incident bore any relation to the upcoming federal election, Rai replied, "I don't know anything about that."

In the meantime, Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada's Conservative Party, expressed his shock at the "horrific news". "My thoughts are with the Filipino community and all the victims targeted by this senseless attack," he posted on social media.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on social media he is “devastated” to learn about the incident. "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 said. "We are monitoring the situation closely, and thankful to our first responders for their swift action."

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