Canada: Witnesses Describe Massacre at Vancouver Festival – No Link to Elections Found

The nation is in shock just a day before national elections as police spokesperson Steve Rai announced that the 30-year-old man arrested for Saturday night’s (26.04.2025) attack in Vancouver had been of interest to authorities previously. The Filipino community had gathered in the Sunset on Fraser neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada, to celebrate festival events when they were struck by a black SUV. Authorities reported that 11 people lost their lives in the violent impact. Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a brief address to the nation, described the incident as deliberate, stating that the Vancouver police characterized it as a ‘car attack.’ He tearfully stated, ‘Last night families lost a sister, brother, mother, father, son, or daughter.’ These families are living every family’s nightmare. AFP reporters observed police at the scene with parts of the festival area cordoned off. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed condolences, tweeting, ‘My heart aches for the loved ones of all victims of the tragic attack at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver.’ Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre tweeted his shock over the horrific news from the Vancouver Lapu Lapu Day festival. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos mentioned being entirely shocked upon learning of the terrible event. Images show the black SUV with a crushed hood parked on a debris-filled street near first responders tending to people lying on the ground. An eyewitness told the Vancouver Sun about seeing injured children on the road after the vehicle hit the crowd. Security guard Jen Idaba-Castaneto stated to a local news site that she saw bodies everywhere. ‘You don’t know who to help, here or there,’ she said. A witness described a woman with her eyes staring upward and one leg broken while someone held her hand trying to comfort her. In Ottawa, retiree Julie Dunbar recalled a 2018 attack in Toronto where a man with a van killed 11 people, expressing fear for society’s future. The Saturday event included a parade, film screenings, dancing, and music featuring two members of the Black Eyed Peas. Lapu Lapu Day honors the native chief who defeated Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in battle in 1521. With elections looming, Canadians head to polls Monday following a campaign focused on cost-of-living increases and U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Carney is favored after assuring voters he can stand up to Washington’s tariff barrage and annexation threats. Amidst election preparations, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio referenced previous comments by Trump regarding Canada becoming the ’51st state.’ Despite no reports linking the Vancouver massacre to the upcoming elections, Canada has not labeled the festival incident as terrorism.