Several attendees at Filipino street festival in Vancouver, Canada, killed after being run over by SUV

A suspected car ramming attack in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday night (Sunday afternoon in the Philippines) claimed the lives of 11 people during the Lapu-Lapu Festival – a celebration of Filipino culture.

According to Vancouver police, witnesses reported hearing the SUV's engine roaring before it sped into the crowd. The 30-year-old driver, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, was held down by people at the scene until authorities arrived. The victims, aged between five and 65, have not been publicly identified. One confirmed victim was 34-year-old Brazilian musician Clara "Kira" Ganapol Salim. Details about the other victims' nationalities have not been released, while several others were also injured in the attack.

Authorities have dismissed terrorism as a motive, and the investigation remains ongoing. Vancouver's interim police chief, Steve Rai, called it the darkest day in the city's history during a press conference on Sunday. He also confirmed that police had no prior information regarding any threats against the Filipino community or the event.

The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver issued a statement regarding the tragic incident, while Vancouver Police continued their efforts to determine the motive behind the attack. President Ferdinand Marcos also expressed his devastation, stating he was "completely shattered to hear about the terrible incident."

In 2023, the government of British Columbia officially declared April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day, honoring the cultural contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community, one of the province's largest immigrant groups.