11 confirmed dead in Vancouver festival as car driven into crowd

OTTAWA -- A total of 11 people have been confirmed dead after a driver drove into a crowd at a street festival in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday evening, said the police on Sunday.

The Vancouver police said in a news conference that the number of dead could rise as dozens more are injured, some seriously.

Interim Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai said the victims include both male and female, with "very young people" among the dead.

The driver does have a significant history of interactions with police and with "health-care professionals related to mental health," Rai said.

"This is the darkest day in Vancouver's history," said Rai.

The tragedy happened shortly after 8 p.m. (0300 GMT) near East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street where the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party was going on.

Local media reported that a black SUV struck individuals who were either walking or waiting near food trucks, leaving multiple victims lying on the ground.

The suspect, a 30-year-old Vancouver man, was arrested at the scene. An investigation is ongoing.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his shock, saying in his social media account: "I am devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver earlier this evening. We are monitoring the situation closely."

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said: "I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident at today's Lapu Lapu Day event. We will work to provide more information as soon as we can."

Named after a Filipino indigenous leader who fought against Spanish colonization in the 16th century, Lapu Lapu Day was officially recognized by the province of British Columbia in 2023 and is widely celebrated by the Filipino community in the province, where Vancouver is the largest city.

Philippine ambassador to Canada Maria Andrelita Austria called the attack a "senseless tragedy" during an interview with CBC on Sunday morning.