海角大神

Vancouver police ruled out terrorism in a car ramming attack that killed 11 people at a Filipino heritage festival in the Canadian city, saying the suspect has a history of mental health issues.

Dozens of others were injured, some seriously, as the ramming shook the country before a federal election.

A man driving a black Audi SUV entered the street just after 8 p.m. Saturday and struck people attending the Lapu Lapu Day festival. A Vancouver man was arrested.

鈥淚t is the darkest day in Vancouver鈥檚 history,鈥� Vancouver Police Interim Chief Steve Rai told a news conference.

鈥淭he person we have in custody does have a significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals related to mental health,鈥� he said.

Video of the aftermath shows the dead and injured along a narrow street in South Vancouver lined by food trucks. The front of the driver鈥檚 SUV is smashed in.

Kris Pangilinan, who brought his pop-up clothing and lifestyle booth to the festival, saw the vehicle enter past the barricade slowly before the driver slammed on the gas in an area that was packed with people after a concert. He said hearing the sounds of bodies hitting the vehicle will never leave his mind.

鈥淗e sideswiped someone on his right side and I was like, 鈥極h, yo yo.鈥� And then he slammed on the gas,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd the sound of the acceleration, it sounds like an F1 car about to start a race.

鈥淗e slammed on the gas, barreled through the crowd. And all I can remember is seeing bodies flying up in the air higher than the food trucks themselves and landing on the ground and people yelling and screaming. It looked like a bowling ball hitting bowling pins and all the pins are flying into the air.鈥�

Mr. Pangilinan said that it would be hard to believe 鈥渢hat someone has some malice against the Filipino people.鈥�

Suspect was detained by bystanders before the police arrived

A 30-year-old Vancouver man was arrested at the scene. Chief Rai said that the man was arrested after initially being apprehended by bystanders.

Video circulating on social media shows a young man in a black hoodie with his back against a chain-link fence, alongside a security guard and surrounded by bystanders screaming and swearing at him.

鈥淚鈥檓 sorry,鈥� the man says, holding his hand to his head.

Chief Rai declined to comment on the video.

Prime Minister Mark Carney canceled his first campaign event on the final day of the election campaign before Monday鈥檚 vote.

鈥淟ast night families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, father, son, or a daughter. Those families are living every family鈥檚 nightmare,鈥� Mr. Carney said. 鈥淎nd to them and to the many others who were injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver, I would like to offer my deepest condolences.鈥�

Vancouver Mayor Kenneth Sim said in a social media post that the city would provide more information when possible.

鈥淚 am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident at today鈥檚 Lapu Lapu Day event,鈥� Mr. Sim said. 鈥淥ur thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver鈥檚 Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time.鈥�

In 2018, a man used a van to kill 10 pedestrians in Toronto. Eight women and two men died. Alek Minassian, who was found guilty, told police that he belonged to an online community of sexually frustrated men, some of whom have plotted attacks on people who have sex.

Vancouver鈥檚 large Filipino population was honoring a national hero

Vancouver had more than 38,600 residents of Filipino heritage in 2021, representing 5.9% of the city鈥檚 total population, according to Statistics Canada, the agency that conducts the national census.

Lapu Lapu Day celebrates Datu Lapu-Lapu, an Indigenous chieftain who stood up to Spanish explorers who came to the Philippines in the 16th century. The organizers of the Vancouver event 鈥� which was in its second year 鈥� said that he 鈥渞epresents the soul of native resistance, a powerful force that helped shape the Filipino identity in the face of colonization.鈥�

British Columbia Premier David Eby said Canadians won鈥檛 let the tragedy define the celebration. 鈥淚t is a community that has only ever been about love and family and community. The Filipino community is so beautiful,鈥� he said.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a statement expressing sympathy with the victims and their families.

鈥淭he Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver is working with Canadian authorities to ensure that the incident will be thoroughly investigated, and that the victims and their families are supported and consoled,鈥� he said.

The country鈥檚 Department of Foreign Affairs said that 鈥渨e remember the 1 million strong Filipino community in Canada and pray for their continued strength and resilience.鈥�

This story was reported by The Associated Press. Mr. Gillies reported from Toronto.