9 dead as man drives into Vancouver fest

A driver killed at least nine people when he ploughed a vehicle through a crowd at a Filipino cultural celebration in Vancouver, police in the Canadian city said yesterday.

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Authorities said the incident happened shortly after 8:00pm in Vancouver’s Sunset on Fraser neighbourhood as members of the Filipino community gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day.

The festival, which commemorates Lapu Lapu, a Filipino anti-colonial leader, falls this year on the weekend before Canada’s election.

“We can confirm nine people have died after a man drove through a crowd at last night’s Lapu Lapu Festival,” Vancouver police said on X.

Lone suspect

Police said earlier they had arrested a 30-year-old local man who was a “lone suspect” known to them. “At this time, we are confident that this incident was not an act of terrorism,” they added.