A tragic incident occurred during the Lapu Lapu Day festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, when a driver plowed into a crowd, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people. The driver, a 30-year-old Vancouver man, was apprehended at the scene; authorities have ruled out terrorism as a motive but have not disclosed further details. The festival, which celebrates a Filipino national hero, was attended by a large crowd, and the incident happened shortly after a performance by a well-known artist. Bystanders managed to subdue the driver before the police arrived, and there was an initial concern about the timing of the incident, as it occurred just before federal elections. The event has prompted condolences from Canadian and Filipino leaders, highlighting the festival's significance in a multicultural city like Vancouver.

A driver in a black SUV drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day festival in Vancouver, killing at least nine people in a mass casualty incident. The suspect, a 30-year-old Vancouver man, was arrested at the scene, and police have ruled out terrorism as a motive.

The incident happened near East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street during an annual event celebrating Datu Lapu Lapu, a Filipino hero, with the festival being relatively new to Vancouver, having started in 2023.

Witnesses described the festival crowd as 'wall to wall,' with the street initially blocked by plastic barriers, which were later moved to allow vendor vehicles in. The driver accelerated through the crowd, causing chaos and prompting comparisons to a war zone.

Interim Police Chief Steve Rai confirmed that the driver was known to police and had been subdued by the crowd before officers arrived, though he did not speculate on the driver's motives or connections to the upcoming federal elections.

The tragic event has drawn condolences from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Vancouver's Mayor Ken Sim, and Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., reflecting the incident's impact on both the local and international community.