VANCOUVER — Police say the 11 victims killed in a Vancouver vehicle attack during a Filipino cultural festival range in age from five to 65.
Deputy Chief Const. Steve Rai says dozens more are injured, some of them critically, and some of those haven't been identified.
A black SUV sped through a street Saturday night that was crowded with people who had been attending a Lapu Lapu Day festival put on by the Filipino community.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says he’s directed a full review of safety measures at events such as these.
However, Sim says “the city is safe," and noted that there are about 3,000 events and festivals held in Vancouver every year.
A man was arrested shortly after the rampage and the mayor says it appears that "mental health is the underlying issue" of the attack.
“The individual in question has a significant history of mental health issues,” noting he’s known to police for a multitude of mental health interactions.
“I want to be clear, if anything is to come of this tragedy, it has to be change. I personally will not stop in calling on governments to make these changes now.”
The Vancouver police department has said in the past that mental health calls take up a significant portion of policing resources.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2025.
The Canadian Press
