Police are holding a news conference in Vancouver to provide an update on their investigation into yesterday’s deadly car-ramming attack at the Lapu Lapu Day street festival.
- Interim Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai is holding a news conference to provide more information on last night’s attack.
- A driver rammed into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party shortly after 8 p.m. PT Saturday, as the event was wrapping up.
- Eleven people were killed, according to Rai, and “dozens more” were injured.
- A suspect was held by bystanders until officers arrived at the scene, interim Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai said.
- A 30-year-old man is in police custody, according to Rai.
- The mass casualty event is not being investigated as an act of terrorism, police said.
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- 1 minute agoRhianna Schmunk
- “I said it’s the darkest day in Vancouver’s history and I stand by that,” Rai said in closing. Const. Tania Visintin, a media relations officer with the department, said more updates will come later today.
- 5 minutes agoRhianna Schmunk
- Rai isn’t saying much more about the suspect, but said it’s “fair to say” he’s a Vancouver resident. He said the driver was travelling eastbound on 43rd Street before the attack. Rai said the vehicle was owned by “somebody associated to that family.”
- 5 minutes agoJenna Benchetrit
- The victims are both male and female, said Rai. He added that “young people” are included among the dead.
- 6 minutes agoRhianna Schmunk
- Rai acknowledged there have been questions around how an SUV could have been driven through the festival and whether this could have been prevented.
- He said “the majority” of the activities in the festival were on the grounds of a high school, not accessible by road. The only road that “required partial closure” was behind the school for food trucks, Rai said, and there were “no barriers” restricting access for those trucks.
- Pressed by a reporter in the room on whether more could have been done, he said, “This particular event did not have any indicators” needed to respond to a “higher threat level.” He noted last year’s festival had no issues and no police were required.
- 9 minutes agoJenna Benchetrit
- Police have spoken with the suspect, who is being held in custody in a secured cell, said Rai.
- 11 minutes agoRhianna Schmunk
- Rai said police consulted with the city and festival organizers and determined that dedicated officers and heavy police vehicles were not necessary at the Lapu Lapu Day festival.
- He said they will now be working with the city “to review all of the circumstances surrounding the planning of this event,” but today’s focus will be on the victims.
- 12 minutes agoRhianna Schmunk
- The driver “does have a significant” history of interactions with police and “health-care professionals related to mental health,” Rai said. Police are not naming the driver because charges have not been laid.
- “The number of dead could rise in the coming days or weeks,” Rai said.
- 13 minutes agoRhianna Schmunk
- The festival was scheduled to wrap up at 8 p.m. PT, but there were hundreds of people still on the street. The driver was the only person in the SUV and remains in custody.
- 13 minutes agoRhianna Schmunk
- Dozens more are injured, some seriously.
- “The number of dead could rise in the coming days or weeks,” Rai said.
- 17 minutes agoRhianna Schmunk
- I’m a senior writer on the national desk based in Vancouver. Police are holding a news conference to give an update on their investigation from their headquarters on Cambie Street.
- “This is the darkest day in our city’s history,” said interim Chief Steve Rai.
