Eleven die in Canada attack on eve of vote

Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, said his country had been left "shocked, devastated and heartbroken" after at least 11 people were killed and dozens injured when a driver ploughed into a crowd at a street festival in Vancouver on the eve of the general election.

- Leyland Cecco Toronto Harriet Sherwood

Vancouver's police chief said the carnage at the Lapu Lapu day festival held by the city's Filipino community was "the darkest day" in the city's history and told reporters it was "impossible to overstate how many lives have been impacted forever" by the lone driver.

"There are many unanswered questions about this horrific crime, the motive of the person who did it, and whether anything could have been done to prevent it," said the interim chief constable, Steve Rai.

Rai said officials felt confident the incident was not an act of terrorism and there had been no known threats made to the Filipino community. A 30-year-old man who had been driving a black Audi SUV was arrested. The suspect had a "significant history of interactions with police and police and healthcare professionals related to mental health".

Rai said the man, who is from Vancouver, was not currently being identified because he had not yet been charged. The names, ages and genders of the victims were also not being released.

The Lapu Lapu day festival, held on a balmy spring day, drew nearly 100,000 people, including many families with children. The celebration is named after chief Lapulapu, an Indigenous resistance fighter in the Philippines who orchestrated the defeat of the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in battle in 1521.

Saturday's festival was the second annual event for the city and organisers advertised a street parade, artisans, cultural activities, a basketball tournament and local food vendors. Apl.de.ap from the six-time Grammy-winning musical group Black Eyed Peas headlined a concert.