A devastating incident shook Vancouver’s Sunset on Fraser neighborhood over the weekend when a vehicle plowed into a street festival celebrating Lapu Lapu Day, leaving 11 people dead and several more critically injured. Authorities have ruled out terrorism as a motive, though investigations are ongoing.
The tragic event occurred around 8 p.m. on Saturday evening as members of the Filipino Canadian community gathered for a vibrant celebration honoring Lapu Lapu, a 16th-century indigenous Filipino hero known for resisting colonial rule. The festival featured a parade, film screening, dancing, and a concert that included performances from members of the Black Eyed Peas.
A black SUV barreled through the crowd, striking dozens. Social media footage verified by AFP showed the vehicle with a crushed front end, stopped near emergency responders tending to victims on the pavement. Festivalgoers described scenes of chaos and heartbreak.
“You don’t know who to help, here or there,” said security guard Jen Idaba-Castaneto, recounting the horrific aftermath. “There were bodies everywhere.”
Vancouver police have confirmed that 11 people are dead, with the toll expected to possibly rise in the coming days due to the critical condition of several victims. The suspect, a 30-year-old Vancouver man, was apprehended at the scene. According to Acting Police Chief Steve Rai, the man was a “lone suspect” who is “known to police in certain circumstances,” though no further details have been provided about his identity or potential motives.
Despite the scale of the attack, police have firmly stated that the rampage is not being treated as an act of terrorism.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his condolences in a message posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver,” he wrote.
The tragedy comes just days before Canada’s national election, scheduled for Monday, as the country grapples with rising tensions and public safety concerns. Authorities have pledged a thorough investigation and additional support for victims and their families.
The Filipino community in Vancouver, one of the city’s most vibrant cultural groups, has been left in mourning. Lapu Lapu Day, which commemorates the resistance and triumph of Filipino indigenous leader Lapulapu over explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, was meant to be a day of pride and remembrance — instead, it has become a day of grief and unanswered questions.
Sources By Agencies
