At least 11 people have been killed and dozens injured after a driver rammed into a crowd at a Filipino street festival in Canada.
Police said they were investigating a mass casualty incident and had arrested a 30-year-old Vancouver man at the scene.
The British Columbia Prosecution Service has since charged the man, identified as Kai-Ji Adam Lo, with eight counts of second-degree murder, and said more charges were possible.
The incident happened shortly after 8pm on Saturday (1pm on Sunday AEST) in Vancouver's Sunset neighbourhood, an area known for its large Asian population, where the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party, celebrating a Philippine hero, was taking place.
Vancouver interim chief constable Steve Rai told reporters: "This is the darkest day in our city's history."
Vancouver interim chief constable Steve Rai told reporters: "This is the darkest day in our city's history." Source: AAP / Rich Lam/AP
Canadian PM says victims' families 'living a nightmare'
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was "devastated" to hear about the "horrific" incident in a post on X, expressing his condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, the Filipino Canadian community, and everyone in Vancouver.
"Last night, families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a son or a daughter. Those families are living every family's nightmare," he later told reporters in Hamilton, Ontario.
"I join all Canadians in mourning with you. I know that Canadians are united with you."
RJ Aquino, chair of the community advocacy group Filipino BC, told reporters the community would feel the impact of the tragedy for a long time.
"We want to tell everybody that we're grieving," Aquino said.
"We want to tell everybody that we see and hear the support from around the world at this point."
Vancouver residents have been in mourning since the incident. Source: AAP / Lindsey Wasson/AP
Police say they have no motive for the attack
More than 12 hours after the incident, police still did not have a motive for the attack at the festival, which took place without a dedicated police presence or heavy vehicle barriers.
Police described Lo as having had a "significant history" of interactions with authorities involving mental health.
They said there was no evidence of terrorism.
"There were no known threats to the event or to the Filipino community," said Rai, noting more than 100 police officers have now been assigned to the case.
The suspect was initially chased down and held by festival-goers until police arrived, witnesses said.
Vancouver Police examine the black SUV believed to have been responsible for multiple fatalities after its driver steered into the festival crowd. Source: AAP / Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP
One witness told CTV News he saw a black vehicle driving erratically in the area of the festival just before the crowd was struck.
A photo of the aftermath posted online showed a dark Audi SUV with both front fenders crumpled and the hood pushed up toward the vehicle's windshield.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he was "shattered to hear about the terrible incident" and extended his "deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and to the strong and thriving Filipino community in Canada".
"The lives lost will not be forgotten," he said in a statement.
'I don't even know what to say'
Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada's New Democratic Party, was among the attendees at the event, but left minutes before the vehicle arrived, CTV News said.
Jagmeet Singh arrived for what he thought would be a normal campaign stop at the Lapu Lapu Day block party over the weekend. Source: AAP / Darryl Dyck / AP
"I was just there, and I just imagine the faces of the kids that I saw smiling and dancing."
