Vancouver Street Festival Tragedy: 11 Killed in Vehicle Crash

A man drove a vehicle into a crowd at a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, killing at least 11 people and injuring more than 20 others, police said. The incident occurred on Saturday evening when the vehicle entered the street at 8:14 p.m.

A 30-year-old Vancouver man was arrested at the scene and the department's Major Crime Section is overseeing the investigation, police said. "At this time, we are confident that this incident was not an act of terrorism," the police department posted early Sunday.

Interim Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai told a news conference that the man was arrested after initially being apprehended by bystanders. "We have had substantive contact with him over mental health issues," Rai said.

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. "I'm sorry," the man says, holding his hand to his head.

Rai declined to comment on the video, but said the person in custody was a "lone male" who was "known to police in certain circumstances."

Carayn Nulada said that she pulled her granddaughter and grandson off the street and used her body to shield them from the SUV. She said that her daughter suffered a narrow escape.

"The car hit her arm and she fell down, but she got up, looking for us, because she is scared," said Nulada, who described children screaming, and pale-faced victims lying on the ground or wedged under vehicles.

James Cruzat, a Vancouver business owner, was at the event and heard a car rev its engine and then "a loud noise, like a loud bang" that he initially thought might be a gunshot. "We saw people on the road crying, others were like running, shouting, or even screaming, asking for help. So we tried to go there just to check what was really actually happening until we found some bodies on the ground. Others were lifeless, others like, you know, injured," Cruzat said.

Nic Magtajas described an SUV roaring through the crowd at high speed. "I saw a bunch of people go over, go high up from the impact of hitting the car," said Magtajas, 19.

Vancouver Mayor Kenneth Sim said in a social media post that the city would provide more information when possible. "I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident at today's Lapu Lapu Day event," Sim said. "Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver's Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time."

Prime Minister Mark Carney and other political leaders on the final day of the election campaign posted messages expressing shock at the violence, condolences for victims and support for the community celebrating its heritage.