A horrific incident unfolded Saturday evening at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day Block Party, a vibrant Filipino cultural festival, when a black SUV plowed into a crowd near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, killing nine people and injuring several others – Reuters report.

The attack occurred shortly after 8 p.m. in the Sunset neighborhood, as the festival, celebrating Filipino hero Datu Lapu-Lapu, was winding down after drawing up to 100,000 attendees.

Eyewitnesses described chaos as the vehicle, driven by a 30-year-old Vancouver man, barreled through the pedestrian-only zone lined with food trucks, striking festival-goers without warning. “It was like a bowling ball hitting pins,” said Yoseb Vardeh, a food truck owner, who saw bodies scattered across the street.

Festival security guard Jen Idaba-Castaneto recalled hearing “boom, boom, boom” as the SUV sped through, leaving “bodies everywhere.”

Vancouver police swiftly arrested the suspect, who initially detained by bystanders before officers arrived. Interim Chief Steve Rai confirmed the man, known to police “in certain circumstances,” acted alone, and authorities are confident the incident was not terrorism-related. The motive remains unclear, with the investigation led by the Vancouver Police Department’s Major Crime Section.

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Emergency crews rushed victims to multiple hospitals, with BC Emergency Health Services deploying seven additional ambulances. A 24-hour assistance center established at Douglas Park Community Centre to help families locate loved ones. Police urged anyone with information to call 604-717-2500.

The festival, officially recognized by British Columbia since 2023, celebrates Filipino resilience and community spirit.