Murder charges were filed Sunday against a suspect in a weekend car ramming attack that killed 11 people between the ages of 5 and 65 at a Filipino heritage festival in the city of Vancouver, a tragedy that shook Canada on the eve of a federal election.
The British Columbia Prosecution Service charged Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, with eight counts of second degree murder and said more charges were possible. Investigators ruled out terrorism and said Lo had a history of mental health issues.
Lo, a Vancouver resident, appeared in court and remains in custody, prosecutors said. An attorney for Lo wasn’t listed in online court documents and The Associated Press wasn’t immediately able to reach an attorney representing him.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said more than 20 people were injured in the incident, which occurred at approximately 20:14 local time on Saturday (03:14 GMT on Sunday), reports news agencies.
Police said the suspect had driven into pedestrians at the annual Lapu Lapu festival, which celebrates Filipino culture, at East 43rd Avenue and Fraser in the south of the Vancouver city.
Steve Rai, interim Vancouver police chief, told reporters on Sunday that it was the darkest day in the city’s history.
“The actions of a single person shattered our collective sense of safety,” he said. “It is impossible to overstate how many lives have been impacted forever by this lone individual.”
Rai says police weren’t aware of any threats to the Filipino community, or the event, beforehand.
“The vehicle that struck festival-goers approached the festival area from the west on East 43rd Avenue. It entered a small crowd, an enclosed area, and drove through the crowd,” he said.
“There were hundreds of festival-goers still on the street and multiple people were struck by the vehicle.”
“The person we have in custody does have a significant history of interactions with police and health-care professionals related to mental health,” he told a briefing on Sunday.
In a statement read Sunday morning, Prime Minister Mark Carney said more than 20 people were injured.
Carney said Canadians are heartbroken at what “police are describing as a car-ramming attack” that happened during “an occasion to gather and to celebrate the vibrancy of the Filipino-Canadian community.”
He earlier posted on X that he is “devastated to hear about the horrific events” in Vancouver and offered his condolences to the “loved ones of those killed and injured.”
Earlier, videos posted on social media showed emergency crews at the scene, with several people lying on the ground — some appearing injured.
Rai, in a midnight news briefing, said bystanders held the suspect until police could arrive. He said the man was known to police “in certain circumstances.”
Rai said the event had been assessed and monitored for security with stakeholders — including those in charge of garbage trucks used in the past to block streets from traffic. The investigation is ongoing and is being led by the Vancouver police major crime section.
Mayor, politicians react
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said his thoughts are with the victims, their families and Vancouver’s Filipino community, “who were coming together today to celebrate resilience.”
“This is a festival with kids there. There are families there,” he said. “I don’t have the words to describe the pain that I’m feeling right now thinking about the lives that were lost.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said on X, “My thoughts are with the Filipino community and all the victims targeted by this senseless attack.”
They both thanked first responders.
B.C. Premier David Eby said in a post to X that he’s “heartbroken” to hear about the lives lost and those injured at the festival.
Vancouver South MP Harjit Sajjan, who grew up in the neighbourhood and was a police officer in Vancouver for several years, arrived at the scene to show his support.
“The community means so much to me and I was just wanted to be here for them,” said Sajjan, a former minister of defence who is not seeking re-election.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said he was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the “horrific incident.”
King Charles also sent condolences in a post on social media.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to all those whose lives have been shattered by such a desperate tragedy and we send our deepest possible sympathy at a most agonizing time for so many in Canada,” he said.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he is “shattered to hear about the terrible incident.”
Vancouver Sun Run to go as planned
The Vancouver Sun Run, one of the biggest 10-kilometre runs in North America, is scheduled for Sunday. The event is expected to see tens of thousands of participants.
Interim police Chief Rai said the event will take place as planned.
“There’s no change …. We will have a full robust deployment and it will occur as planned with security,” he said.