Canada police said they had excluded terrorism as a motivator after a man went to a crowd to a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver on Saturday evening, killing 11 people and injuring dozens of others.
On Sunday afternoon, the acting chief of the Vancouver police told a press conference that the suspect detained as part of the incident of the Lapu Day festival has a history of mental health problems.
“Although I am not ready to talk about the potential reason, I can now say with confidence that the evidence in this case does not lead us to believe that it was an act of terrorism,” he said. “I can also tell you that the person we have in detention has important history of interactions with the police and health professionals related to mental health.”
Rich Lam / The Canadian Press via AP)
Rai, who said they expect the number of deaths to increase in the coming days or weeks, described the incident as “the act of heartbreaking and tearing violence”.
“It’s the darkest day in the history of our city,” he said.
A man from Vancouver, who was not identified, was arrested after a vehicle entered the street at 8:14 p.m. on Saturday and hit people who attended the festival, said the Vancouver police department. At a previous press conference, Rai said the suspect was arrested after being initially apprehended by passers -by.
Ufuk Cell Guzel / Anadolu via Getty Images 
The video circulating on social networks shows a young man in a black hooded sweatshirt with his back against a chain bond fence, alongside a security guard and surrounded by passers -by by screaming and swearing it.
“I’m sorry,” said the man, holding his hand at his head.
The festival took place in a southern district of Vancouver. A video published on social networks has shown victims and debris scattered through a long period of road, with at least seven people lying on motion on the ground. A black SUV with a crumpled front section could be seen in photos of the scene.
James Cruzat, owner of a Vancouver company, was at the event and heard a car on its engine, then “a loud noise, like a big blow” which he initially thought was a shot.
“We saw people on the crying road, others were like running, shouting or even shouting, asking for help. So we tried to go just to check what was really going on until we find bodies on the ground. Others were lifeless, others like, you know, wounded,” said Cruzat.
“It was terrible to see this kind of incident, this situation. It was heartbreaking,” said Cruzat. “I couldn’t even imagine that it really happens in real life, because normally we see this on televisions or films. But when you are in this kind of situation, it was really shocking. … You could not do anything but to pray for them.”
The mayor of Vancouver, Kenneth Sim, said in an article on social networks that the city would provide more information when possible.
“I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrible incident at the Lapu Day day event today,” said Sim. “Our thoughts are with all the people affected and with the Philippine community of Vancouver during this incredibly difficult period.”
Lapu Lapu day festival
Vancouver had more than 38,600 inhabitants of the Philippin heritage in 2021, representing 5.9% of the total population of the city, according to Statistics Canada, the agency that leads the national census.
Lapu Day famous Datu Lapu-Lapu, an native chief who resisted the Spanish explorers who came to the Philippines in the 16th century. The organizers of the Vancouver event declared that it “represents the soul of the native resistance, a powerful force which helped to shape the Philippine identity in the face of colonization”.
Rich Lam / The Canadian Press via AP 
Prime Minister Mark Carney and other Canadian political figures displayed messages expressing a shock in the face of violence, condolences for the victims and support for the community celebrating his heritage at the Festival.
“I offer my deepest condolences to relatives of those who are killed and injured, to the Canadian Philippine community and everyone in Vancouver. We are all mourning with you,” said Carney.
“While we are waiting to find out more, our thoughts concern the victims and their families – and the Philippine Community of Vancouver, which met today to celebrate resilience,” wrote Jagmeet Singh, head of the New Democratic Party, who was at the festival earlier during the day.
“My thoughts concern the Philippine community and all the victims targeted by this insane attack. Thank you to the first speakers who are on the scene while we are waiting to know more,” wrote the conservative party Pierre Hairyvre.
David Eby, the Prime Minister of British Columbia, the province in which Vancouver is, said that he had been shocked and with a broken heart. “We are in touch with the city of Vancouver and will provide any necessary support,” wrote Eby.
