Several people killed, others injured after vehicle drives into Vancouver street festival crowd

Vancouver police say several people have been killed and multiple others injured after a vehicle drove into a crowd at a street festival Saturday evening.

The incident happened shortly after 8 p.m. near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, where the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party was taking place.

Police said the driver is in custody.

In a post on X, the Vancouver Police Department said more information would be released as the investigation unfolds.

Earlier, videos posted on social media showed emergency crews at the scene, with several people lying on the ground — some appearing injured. 

CBC News has reached out to Vancouver police for further details.

NDP campaign made appearance

The NDP had made a campaign stop at the festival earlier in the day.

In a statement posted on X, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he was “horrified to learn of an incident at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day celebrations that injured and killed innocent people.” 

He said his thoughts are with the victims, their families and Vancouver’s Filipino community, “who were coming together today to celebrate resilience.”

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said in a statement that he was “shocked and deeply saddened” by what he called a “horrific incident” at the festival. 

“Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time,” he said.

B.C. Premier David Eby said in a post to social media platform X that he’s “shocked and heartbroken” to hear about the lives lost and those injured at the festival.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also took to X stating that he was “shocked” by the “horrific news” emerging from the festival at Vancouver. 

“My thoughts are with the Filipino community and all the victims targeted by this senseless attack. Thank you to the first responders who are at the scene as we wait to hear more,” he said.

Lapu Lapu Day is named after an Indigenous resistance fighter in the Philippines who fought against Spanish colonization in the 16th Century.

Friday’s event was the second annual street celebration of the day in Vancouver, and organizers had said it was an opportunity to mark “the enduring impact on Filipino values, notably the spirit of bayanihan — the collective community effort.”