At least 11 people were killed and dozens injured when a man with a history of mental health problems drove an SUV into a crowd of people at a Filipino community festival in the western Canadian city of Vancouver on Wednesday, police said, Reuters reported.
The previous death toll was nine.
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Police arrested a 30-year-old Vancouver man at the scene of the incident Saturday night, describing him as having a "significant history" of interactions with authorities regarding mental health. They said there was no evidence of terrorism.
"This is the darkest day in the history of our city," Vancouver's interim mayor Steve Rai told reporters at a Sunday news conference.
He said dozens of people were injured, some seriously, and warned that the death toll could rise in the coming days and weeks.
More than 100 police officers joined the investigation, as local officials worked with provincial and federal authorities to provide support.
Messages of condolences and support have arrived from all over the world.
"The community will feel this for a long time. We want to tell everyone that we are grieving. We want to tell everyone that we see and hear the support from all over the world at this time," RJ Akino, president of the Filipino BC community advocacy group, told reporters.
The attack on Saturday night came two days before Canada's federal election on Monday. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's campaign was suspended this morning, but he resumed campaigning after issuing a statement expressing condolences to the country's Filipino community.
"Families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a son or a daughter last night. These families are living every family's nightmare," he told reporters in Hamilton, in the Canadian province of Ontario.
"I join all Canadians in mourning. I know Canadians are united with you," he said.
More than 12 hours after the incident, police still did not know the motive for the attack at the festival, which took place without the presence of dedicated police or barriers for heavy vehicles.
"There were no known threats to the event or the Filipino community," Rai said.
The suspect was caught and held by festival-goers until police arrived, witnesses said.
The injured were taken to several hospitals, police said.
The incident occurred shortly after 20 p.m. local time (XNUMX a.m. Central European Time) in Vancouver's Sunset neighborhood, an area known for its large Asian population, where a party was being held for Lapu-Lapu Day, honoring the Philippine national hero.
One witness told CTV News he saw a black vehicle in the festival area just before it plowed into people.
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