At 11, according to the report so far, the dead from her to. The number of wounded remains unclear, however, more than 20, who, as police said, were transported by ambulance to nine different hospitals.
The temporary leader of the security forces, Steve Rai, announced on Sunday that there are 11 confirmed deaths from the car attack, including men, women and children, with their number expected to increase in the coming days and weeks. He added that dozens of others were injured, some of whom are in serious condition.
Authorities said a 30 -year -old, “known to them”, with a history of mental health issues, fell by a black Audi SUV car on a large group of people at the Lapo Lapo Festival – named after a national hero of the Philippines.
The Philippine community is the third largest cultural group in Vancouver. According to Canada’s statistical service, more than 174,000 people in the community account for 3.5% of the province’s total population.
Video of the car used in the driving rampage into a crowd in Vancouver Canada 🇨🇦 that has killed NINE people and inured many. Heartbreaking 💔
— Melissa 🇨🇦 (@MelissaLMRogers)
Police reported that there were up to “a few thousand people” attending. One witness told Canadian Broadcasting CTV News that he saw a black vehicle driving irregularly leading to an area of the festival shortly before falling on the crowd.
The tragedy occurred on the eve of the election in Canada, with the opposition leader of the opposition taking pictures with voters at the festival, shortly before.
The Canadian prime minister, who was planned to visit the province of British Columbia today for his latest election rallies, announced that he would amend his program.
King Charles, the leader of the state of Canada, said in a statement: “My wife and I are deeply saddened by the terrible attack and tragic loss of lives in Vancouver, which took place as the Philippine community celebrated one of its special festivals.”
Philippine President Ferdinand Markos Junior said “overwhelmed by the terrible event” and expressed his “deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the strong and thriving Philippine community in Canada”. “The lives lost will not be forgotten,” he said in a statement.
Although many losses are much less common in Canada than the US, such incidents occur somewhat regularly, north of the border.
Jagmit Singh, leader of the New Democracy party of Canada, who was among the participants in the event, but left a few minutes before the vehicle arrived, told reporters: “We do not know the motives, we do not know any details, but it is in the end. I was there, I only imagined the faces of the children I had seen laughing and dancing. It’s horrifying. “
The profile of the perpetrator
12 hours after the high incident, police still do not have the motivation for the festival attack, held without a special police presence or barriers to heavy vehicles.
At a press conference, Steve Ray told reporters that the “lonely suspect” was “arrested on the spot” before the police arrived. He said there is no “further risk” and it is certain that “this incident was not a terrorist act”.
The suspect who is in custody has an important history of interactions with the police and health professionals “on mental health”, Ray said.
He also said that there had been a risk assessment prior to the event, in which the authorities had decided that it was not necessary to develop many police forces. He also noted that there were no known threats, neither for the festival nor for the Philippine community.
“While I am convinced that the common risk assessment and the public security plan were right, we will work with our partners in the Vancouver city to examine all the conditions around the planning of this event,” he added.
