Car Rampage at Filipino Festival in Vancouver Leaves Several Dead and Injured
Police arrest the driver after a vehicle plows into a crowd at the Filipino community's festival, increasing tensions ahead of Canada's general elections.
Watan-A number of people were killed after a driver drove into a crowd at a popular festival held by the Filipino community on Saturday in Vancouver, western Canada, local police reported, raising tensions just before the country’s general elections on Monday.
In a post on X platform, Vancouver Police wrote: “Several people were killed and others injured,” confirming the arrest of the driver.
“Shocking Incident at LabLab Festival: Bodies Found, Emergency Teams Respond”
Jane Edaba-Castenato, in charge of festival security, told local Vancouver news outlet “Is Awesome”: “I saw bodies spread out. We didn’t know who to help first. It was extremely shocking.”
Footage aired by CBC TV showed emergency teams at the scene.
Vancouver Car Attack: Police Confirm Fatalities, Motive Still Unknown
The police stated that the incident occurred shortly after 8:00 p.m. local time on Saturday (3:00 a.m. Sunday GMT) in the Sunset on Fraser area of the city in western Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on X: “We are all grieving with you.” Carney was scheduled to visit the British Columbia province, which includes Vancouver, as part of his final election rallies.
Unknown Motives Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative leader in the upcoming elections and main challenger to Carney, wrote on X: “I sympathize with the Filipino community and all the victims targeted in this crazy attack,” adding that he “awaits more information” about the motives of the perpetrator.
Left-wing leader Jagmeet Singh also posted on X: “I sympathize with the victims and their families, as well as the Filipino community in Vancouver.”
الشرطة اعتقلت السائق.. قتلى وإصابات في حادثة دهس سيارة حشداً من المشاركين في مهرجان شعبي للجالية الفلبينية في مدينة فانكوفر جنوب غربي كندا.#تفاعل ليصل إليك كل جديد pic.twitter.com/Ejp1Ojw10u
— TRT عربي (@TRTArabi) April 27, 2025
Vancouver Festival Commemorates Filipino Hero Amid Tragic Car Attack
The LabLab Festival in the Philippines commemorates the native Filipino leader Lapu-Lapu, who led his people to defeat Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan during a battle in 1521.
Saturday’s program included a parade, film screening, dances, and a concert with two members of the famous “Black Eyed Peas.”
This incident comes a year after the life sentence of Canadian Nathaniel Veltman for hitting a Muslim family with his truck in London, Ontario in 2021. This ruling was the first in Canada to link white supremacism and terrorism in a murder case.
Canadian voters head to the polls on Monday after a campaign dominated by the economic war with the United States and Donald Trump’s threats to annex Canada.
Polls indicate that the new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is the favorite to win.
