In Vancouver, a Driver Plows into Festival Crowd: Nine Dead, Terrorism Ruled Out

Canada is mourning after a tragedy that struck Vancouver on Saturday evening. A 30-year-old man drove a black SUV into a crowd gathered to celebrate Lapu-Lapu Day, a festival honoring the Philippine community, in the Sunset on Fraser neighborhood. According to the latest figures from local police, nine people have died and dozens more have been injured.

A Lone Suspect Known to Authorities

Quickly apprehended by witnesses at the scene, the driver was taken into custody. He was known to law enforcement “under certain circumstances” and is believed to have acted alone. At this stage, authorities have ruled out terrorism, describing him as an “isolated suspect.” Vancouver’s police chief summed it up: “One vehicle, one suspect,” confirming no accomplices are being sought.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with bodies lying on the road and screams filling the air. “It was indescribable—there were bodies everywhere,” a festival security officer told the local news site Vancouver Is Awesome.

A Nation in Shock on the Eve of Elections

The tragedy has triggered a wave of national emotion just one day before the country heads to the polls for a tense general election. Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is leading in the polls, expressed his “deep sorrow” and “steadfast support for the victims and the Philippine community.” Several political leaders, including Conservative Party head Pierre Poilievre and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, also paid tribute to the victims.

This incident comes in a sensitive context, a year after Nathaniel Veltman’s historic conviction for a racist murder in London, Ontario. Although not considered a terrorist attack, the Vancouver tragedy has reopened painful wounds within Canadian society.

A homicide investigation has been launched, but so far, the suspect’s motivations remain unclear.