11 killed in Lapu Lapu Day crowd ranged in age from 5 to 65, Vancouver police say

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Rai says police had not "from our knowledge" had any interactions "immediately leading up to this event" with the suspect.

As we reported earlier, there have been questions around how a driver was able to get an SUV into the crowd. Rai says that the risk assessment done by police, prior to big events, involves scanning social media for threats and working with organizers on their needs, among a “whole gamut” of preparations.

He says that last year’s Lapu Lapu Day festival was a family-friendly event for Filipino people to celebrate their culture, an atmosphere police wanted to maintain this year. He said he believes this year’s response was appropriate based on the information they had.

“We don’t want to cage everybody up at every event in the City of Vancouver,” the interim police chief said.

Rai says a number of victims "have not yet been identified."

He said "dozens" of people have been injured, "some critically."

Those looking for loved ones who were at the festival can either 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.

The interim police chief said the people who died ranged in age from five to 65.

Sim says he's called for a "full review" of the city's safety measures.

That review will include looking at "barriers, traffic control and safety controls,” he said. “Our first priority is and will always be protecting the residents of Vancouver.”

Rai had called the tragedy a "watershed moment" earlier today, saying the security review of events had "worked up to this point."

Sim thanked those who have reached out to him with words of support, including other elected officials from across Canada and around the world.

The 2021 census showed that 38,605 Vancouverites were of Filipino descent — the third-largest visible minority group in the city, behind those of South Asian and Chinese descent.

“Let me just tell you, their strength — even through this unimaginable pain — exemplifies Vancouver’s resiliency,” he said.

Ken Sim is holding a news conference at city hall alongside representatives from the city, the police department and fire department.

He repeats Rai’s words from this morning, saying Vancouver saw “its darkest day” yesterday.

At a pared-down campaign stop in Penticton around 2 p.m., Singh was emotional recounting what the Lapu Lapu festival was like on Saturday while he visited shortly before the tragedy occurred.

"I keep on thinking about the kids that I met, the joy. I was there literally minutes before this happened. And I can't stop thinking about how much happiness was there," said Singh, who made the short stop accompanied by his parents.

"People were so positive and so joyful and to have such a horrific thing happen, I keep on replaying it," the NDP leader said, trailing off, his voice hoarse.

Singh will be attending a Filipino mass this evening in Vancouver. Carney is also planning on being at an event with Premier Eby, though his team has not specified exactly where that will be.

A statement from the Liberal campaign said Mark Carney will be with Eby and other community leaders in the city at some point this evening.

“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.”

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