Vancouver, British Columbia, is reeling after a vehicle plowed into attendees at a street festival celebrating Filipino heritage. The incident, wich occurred saturday night, resulted in fatalities and numerous injuries, according to authorities.

swift Apprehension

Eyewitnesses at the festival played a crucial role in detaining the suspect at the scene. Police have identified the individual as a 30-year-old Vancouver resident.

Motive Under Investigation

While the investigation is ongoing, authorities have stated they are “confident” the incident was not an act of terrorism. A law enforcement source indicated that investigators are exploring the possibility of mental health issues as a contributing factor.

Eyewitness Accounts: Scenes of Chaos

The street festival, intended as a vibrant festivity, quickly devolved into a scene of panic and devastation. Kris Pangilinan, a Toronto-based journalist who attended the event, described the horrifying moments to the Canadian public broadcaster CBC:

It’s something you don’t expect to see in your lifetime. [The driver] just slammed the pedal down and rammed into hundreds of people. It was like seeing a bowling ball hit — all the bowling pins and all the pins flying up in the air.

Kris Pangilinan, Toronto-based journalist

Pangilinan further depicted the aftermath as resembling a “war zone,” with “bodies all over the ground.”

Aftermath Captured

Footage from the scene showed a street lined with food stalls, now marred by debris. Emergency responders provided medical aid to multiple individuals on the ground. A black SUV with important front-end damage was observed in the middle of the road, its driver-side door open as a police officer examined the vehicle.

Community Response

Filipino BC, the community group that organized the street festival, expressed their profound sorrow in a statement:

We are still finding the words to express the deep heartbreak brought on by this senseless tragedy. We are devastated for the families and victims.

Filipino BC

The group posted the statement on Instagram:

Political Reaction

Prime Minister Mark Carney conveyed his condolences, describing the incident as “horrific” in a statement on X:

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.

Prime Minister Mark Carney