'Darkest day': At least 11 people killed after man drives car into crowd in Vancouver, police say

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'Darkest day': At least 11 people killed after man drives car into crowd in Vancouver, police say

Police have said that the mass casualty incident at a neighbourhood party was "not an act of terrorism," ITV News Anna Geary reports

At least 11 people have been killed after a man drove a car into a crowd at a street festival in Vancouver, Canada, police have said.

Vancouver Police said "multiple" people had also been injured, some seriously, in what authorities described as a car ramming attack that shook the country.

Holding a press conference on Sunday, Vancouver Police Interim Chief Steve Rai said: “It is the darkest day in Vancouver’s history."

Just after 8:14pm local time (4:14am BST) on Saturday a vehicle entered a street where people were attending the Lapu Lapu Filipino community festival.

A man driving a black Audi SUV entered the narrow street in South Vancouver lined by food trucks.

A 30-year-old man, who is from Vancouver and "known to police," was arrested at the scene, police confirmed.

Interim Chief Rai said: “The person we have in custody does have a significant history of interactions with police health care professionals related to mental health."

He confirmed that there was men, women and young among the victim but did not provide anymore details.

Police said they are "confident" that the incident was "not an act of terrorism".

Video posted on social media showed victims and debris scattered along a stretch of road, with at least seven people lying motionless on the ground.

Still images from the scene showed a black SUV with a crumpled front section.

Carayn Nulada said she pulled her granddaughter and grandson off the road, using her body to shield them from the SUV. She added that her daughter had a narrow escape.

“The car hit her arm and she fell down, but she got up, looking for us because she is scared,” Nulada said, describing children screaming and victims lying on the ground or trapped under vehicles, their faces pale.

“I saw people running and my daughter was shaking.”

Nulada was at Vancouver General Hospital's emergency room on early Sunday morning, searching for news about her brother, who was hit in the attack and suffered multiple broken bones.

The Lapu Lapu Day festival, which celebrates Filipino culture, was taking place in a South Vancouver neighbourhood.

The organisers of the festival, a community group called Filipino BC, wrote in a statement on Instagram: “We are still finding the words to express the deep heartbreak brought on by this senseless tragedy. We are devastated for the families and victims.”

King Charles has said he and Queen Camilla are "profoundly saddened" to hear of the attack in Vancouver.

"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 agonising time for so many in Canada," The King said in a statement posted on X.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is seeking re-election on Monday, said on X he was "devastated" to hear about the events.

"I am devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver earlier this evening," he wrote.

"I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver. We are all mourning with you.

"We are monitoring the situation closely, and thankful to our first responders for their swift action."

The Mayor of Vancouver, Ken Sim, also offered his condolences in a statement on X, saying that he was "shocked" by the "horrific" incident.

"I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident at today’s Lapu Lapu Day event," he said.

"Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time."

David Eby, the Premier of British Columbia, the province where Vancouver is located, said he was shocked and heartbroken.

“We are in contact with the City of Vancouver and will provide any support needed,” Eby wrote.