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| The aftermath of the tragedy on Vancouver's Fraser St |
At least 11 people are now known to have been killed and dozens others injured when a man with a history of mental health issues rammed a sports utility vehicle (SUV) through a crowd celebrating a Filipino community festival in the western Canadian city of Vancouver.
Vancouver Police who arrested a 30-year-old male suspect at the scene of the incident on Saturday evening said the suspect had a “significant history” of consulting authorities on mental health.
They said they “were confident” it was not a terrorist act, and that the suspect had acted alone, and deliberately.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Reports said the incident happened shortly after 8pm in Vancouver’s Sunset on Fraser neighborhood as members of the Filipino community gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day.
| The celebration falls this year on the weekend before Canada’s election. |
Various witnesses recalled hearing a lot of banging sound as the black SUV roared down the street at full speed.
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| The SUV was left mangled by the carnage (Facebook photo) |
In the aftermath, a number of people were seen strewn across the road, being tended by bystanders and first responders.
Victims were rushed to several local hospitals, with the full casualty toll still unknown.
Canadian Prime
Minister Mark Carney immediately offered his “deepest condolences” to families
of the victims, to Filipinos in Canada and to everyone in Vancouver.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. also extended sympathy, and said he was “shattered” by news of the incident.
Marcos said the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver is already working with Canadian authorities to ensure that a full investigation is carried out, and that the victims and their families are given support and consolation.
