Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has reacted to the death of at least 11 people during the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver.
At least eleven people have been confirmed killed, while dozens of others were rushed to hospitals with various degrees of injuries after a driver ploughed a car into a crowd at a street festival in Vancouver on Saturday evening.
The incident happened on the eve of Canada’s election, and prime minister Carney said the attack has left the country “shocked, devastated and heartbroken”;.
Earlier, Vancouver’s police chief, Steve Rai, said the carnage was “the darkest day”; in the city’s history and told reporters it was “impossible to overstate how many lives have been impacted for ever”; by the lone driver.
Vancouver’s mayor, Ken Sim, said he has directed a full review of the city’s “event safety measures, including barriers, traffic control and safety protocols”;.
The Lapu-Lapu festival brought nearly 100,000 people together, many of whom were families with young children.
Organisers of Saturday’s event advertised a street parade, artisans, cultural activities, a basketball tournament and local food vendors.
Carney paused campaigning to address the country on Sunday morning.
He said, “Those families are living every family’s nightmare. I know that I join all Canadians in mourning with you. I know that Canadians are united with you.
“This spirit upon which we must draw in this incredibly difficult time. We will comfort the grieving. We will care for each other. We will unite for common purpose.”;
Carney said the briefings he had gotten from national security officials indicates the attacker acted alone and that there was no active threat to the public.
RJ Aquino, the chair of the festival organiser Filipino BC, told reporters, “Last night was extremely difficult and the community will feel this for a long time.”
Vancouver had more than 38,600 residents of Filipino heritage in 2021, representing 5.9% of the city’s total population, according to Statistics Canada.
