11 people have been confirmed dead and more than 20 injured after an SUV drove into a crowd yesterday at 8:14 p.m. at E 43rd ave and Fraser Street in Vancouver. VPD Interim Chief Const. Steve Rai has stated that the death toll is expected to rise in the upcoming days. The event was an annual Filipino festival celebrating anti-colonial figure Lapu Lapu. The suspect was known to VPD for previous mental health issues, but VPD has refused to state a possible motive. VPD has stated that they will release the identity of the suspect later today.
The attack is being considered one of the worst mass casualty events committed by a single perpetrator in Canadian history, and the worst mass casualty event witnessed in B.C. history.
Members of the community and people across Canada and the World have reacted in horror to the event and expressed their condolences. Candlelight vigils have been planned by the community for today at 10:30 a.m. at St Mary the Virgin South Hill Church and at 5:00 p.m. at E 41st ave and Fraser Street.