Saturday April 26, 2025 | VANCOUVER, BC [Posted at 10:50 pm PT | Latest update 3:15 am PT April 27, 2025 | See April 27, 2025 police & political update]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Update at 9:20 am -April 27/25 – click here
Update at 3 am April 27/25:
Vancouver Police Department has confirmed that nine people have died as a result of this incident.
Vancouver Police midnight update on mass casualty event:
As posted on X at midnight (12:01 am April 27): “Vancouver Police investigates mass casualty incident at neighbourhood block party. A suspect has been arrested by Vancouver Police after several people were killed and multiple others injured at a neighbourhood street party in South Vancouver earlier tonight. At approximately 8:14 p.m. on April 26, a man drove into a large crowd of people attending the Lapu Lapu Day Festival near East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street. A 30-year-old suspect, a Vancouver man, was arrested at the scene. The investigation is ongoing and is being led the Vancouver Police Department’s Major Crime Section. Anyone with information is asked to call 604-717-2500.”
“The subject was known to police in certain circumstances,” said Vancouver Police Department Acting Police Chief, Steve Rai. “The person was taken into custody by people in the crowd.” The crowd size was “fluid”, up to 100,000 people at one point.
Link to Vancouver Police Dept news release: Vancouver Police investigates mass casualty event at neighbourhood block party (April 26, 2025)
As posted at 10:50 pm on April 26/25 | Updated to 2:30 am April 27/25:
A number of people have been killed and multiple others are injured after a driver drove into a crowd at a street festival at E. 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street shortly after 8 pm tonight, say Vancouver Police.
The driver is in custody, say Vancouver Police who posted in social media that they will provide more information as the investigation unfolds.
Reportedly, videos posted on social media showed emergency crews at the scene, with several people lying on the ground — some appearing injured.
A short video shown on Global TV this evening showed the attacker’s black SUV with extensive damage to the front end of the vehicle and the air bags deployed.
The event:
This year’s Filipino community event (second annual) was free and open to all, with a street parade, artisan vendors, cultural activities, a giant basketball tournament, and lots of great food. A member of the six-time Grammy-winning Black Eyed Peas performed a free concert (by donation).
A bystander at the event around 7:30 pm on Saturday evening, Alan Kane, said live on CBC this evening said he saw one garbage truck in the alley and people were migrating up to 42nd Avenue. “It was wall to wall” (with people) including people heading to food trucks and leaving the concert on the John Oliver field, said Kane. He said that side streets were not blocked off.
NDP was there this evening:
As it happens, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s itinerary shows that he was at the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party in Vancouver at 7 pm PT.
The incident happened shortly after 8 pm. The Black-Eyed Peas concert had just finished, according to eyewitnesses.
In a statement posted on X, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said: “I am horrified to learn of an incident at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day celebrations that injured and killed innocent people. As we wait to learn more, our thoughts are with the victims and their families – and Vancouver’s Filipino community, who were coming together today to celebrate resilience.”
Eight blocks:
The festival was held outdoors along eight blocks of roadway.
Vancouver City Councillor Pete Fry tonight on CBC said there was room for vehicles to get into the roadway that was filled with pedestrians; the street was not blocked off.
For some reason a car (reportedly a black SUV) was let in past a wooden barrier (by volunteers) that entered slowly, then the vehicle picked up speed about 10 to 15 metres into the festival area), according to one eye witness (Kris Pangilinam, a vendor at the festival) on CBC TV late this evening. He said it was watching a bowling ball hitting bowling pins, to see bodies flying. He said one security guard just froze and did not respond, but that emergency responses arrived “within minutes”.
According to the eyewitness there were no concrete barriers in place at the entry to the festival area. Vancoiuver City Councillor Mike Klassen was more cautious in his response, saying that reports from Vancouver Police and Vancouver Fire Rescue should be awaited.
Hospitals:
This evening, two Vancouver-area hospitals have declared a code orange (mass casualty event involving an influx of patients overwhelming the hospital’s resource).
Reportedly ( at 11:30 pm ) there are eight people dead (one is a child) and six people are in critical condition.
BC Premier’s response:
BC Premier David Eby posted in social media: “Shocked & heartbroken to hear of the lives lost & those injured at the Lapu Lapu festival. Police are investigating & a suspect is in custody. We are in contact with the City of Vancouver and will provide any support needed. My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones.”
Candidate comments:
Liberal Leader Mark Carney (who will be in Vancouver on Sunday), posted on X late this evening: “I am devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver earlier this evening. I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver. We are all mourning with you. We are monitoring the situation closely, and thankful to our first responders for their swift action.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said on X this evening: “I am shocked by the horrific news emerging from Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day Festival tonight. 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.”
===== RELATED:
- Vancouver Police update on vehicle-impact crowd attack: 11 deaths, more expected (April 27, 2025)
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