Vancouver pageant crash newest: Child, 5, amongst 11 useless after car-ramming assault with extra ‘critically injured’
Vancouver’s interim police chief Steve Rai has said that a five-year-old was among the 11 dead from a car-ramming attack in the city.
At least 20 people were injured and 11 have died, ages ranging between five and 65, after a car ploughed into a crowd at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival at 8pm on Saturday.
A 30-year-old man from Vancouver was arrested at the scene, who police say was known to them and mental health professionals before the incident.
He said the man in custody has had “a significant history of interactions with police and healthcare professionals related to mental health” as police remained confident the incident was not an act of terrorism.
Mr Rai called the incident the “darkest day in Vancouver’s history” and said it would be a “watershed moment” for operational changes in the city’s police department.
Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney has said the nation was left “shocked, devastated and heartbroken” and cancelled final rallies in Calgary, Richmond and British Columbia ahead of the federal election on Monday.
WATCH: Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim opens full review after car ramming attack
Canada PM Carney to come to Vancouver Sunday evening
Mark Carney will be with British Columbia premier David Eby and other community leaders in the city at some point this evening ahead of tomorrow’s federal election.
Mayor Ken Sim said that Carney had called up to offer his support to the city following the incident and express his sorrow over the attack.
Mayor Ken Sim calls for mandatory care for people with significant mental health challenges
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has called for “mandatory care for people with significant mental health challenges or substance use disorder” across Canada.
It is understood mental health played a role in the car-ramming attack on Saturday.
“it’s the most humane thing to do.
“There are people on the streets who cannot direct their own care and they’re causing harm to themselves and other people.”
British Columbia premier says gatherings will continue following Lapu-Lapu incident
British Columbia’s premier David Eby has said that the attack would not stop people from gathering in the future and cleebrating the culture and people of Vancouver and Columbia.
He said: “In this moment, today, it’s hard to imagine another celebration. We’re grieving, people are in shock, people are in hospital, families are still being notified, people are trying to reach loved ones they haven’t been in contact with.
“But I know that this attack will not stop us from gathering and celebrating the culture, celebrating the people of Vancouver and British Columbia,” he said, standing next to Elmore with a Canada-Phillippines flag pin on his lapel.
“We’ll work with the city, we’ll work with police to make sure events have the systems in place to keep people safe while they’re celebrating. And we will, as a community, come out of this stronger.”
Police chief defends risk assessment
Police chief Steve Rai responded to questions around how a driver was able to get an SUV into the crowd.
Mr Rai said that the risk assessment done by police, prior to big events, involves scanning social media for threats and working with organisers on their needs, among a “whole gamut” of preparations.
He called the event a “fun, cultural” and “family-friendly event for Filipino to celebrate their culture, an atmosphere police wanted to maintain.
“We certainly don’t want to create a police state. The intelligence led up to a proper deployment of resources based on the information.”
He added: “We don’t want to cage everybody up at every event in the City of Vancouver.”
A number of victims have not been identified, says police
Police chief Steve Rai has said a number of victims “have not yet been identified.”
He said “dozens” of people have been injured, “some critically.”
He directed those looking for loved ones who were at the festival to go in person to the 24-hour assistance centre at the Douglas Park community centre or speak with a victim liaison officer at 1-604-717-3321.
Vigil in Vancouver at 6pm tonight
Mayor Ken Sim has confirmed that Vancouver will experience a vigil at 6pm tonight.
He insisted that Vancouver is “still a safe city” and told the Filipino community “your family is our family too”.
There is no ongoing threat to the community, says police chief
Vancouver’s interim police chief Steve Rai has said he doesn’t believe there is an ongoing threat to the community.
He added that the victims killed in ramming attack were from an age rang varying from five to 65.
Mayor Ken Sim opens full review after car ramming attack
He has called the incident in Vancouver its “darkest day” which emphasises the city’s resilience.
“Like all of you, I’m completely, heartbroken, shocked, and I’m angry.”
The mayor has directed a “full review” into event safety measures including into barriers and traffic control.
Sim underlines Vancouver is “still a safe city” as he urges residents to keep plans in place.
Source: independent.co.uk
