'We pray for justice': London Filipino community reacts to Vancouver vehicle attack
At least 11 killed after SUV rams crowd at Vancouver Filipino community festival
Members of London's Filipino community and local political representatives are expressing shock and sadness to news of a deadly vehicle attack at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver.
At least 11 people were killed and dozens were injured after the driver of a black SUV plowed through a crowd of people at the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party, an event celebrating the contributions of the Filipino Canadian community.
A 30-year-old Vancouver man was held by festival goers after the attack, which happened around 8 p.m. PT. The man's identity has not been released, but Vancouver's police chief expressed confidence the incident was not terrorism.
A motive is not yet known, but the man has a "significant history" of interactions with police and mental health workers, Chief Steve Rai said. No charges had been laid as of mid-day Sunday.
"We heard about the news this morning, I was actually crying, praying for them," said Pastor Elmer Ubalde of Jesus is Lord Church London, the local chapter of the Philippines-based megachurch.
"Although we do not know what actually happened, I saw lives lost this morning, and my thoughts and prayers (are) for our Filipino brethrens and the Filipino community in Vancouver."
The church is ready to extend whatever help they can to those impacted, Ubalde said, adding a Jesus is Lord Church is also located in Metro Vancouver, which has a large Filipino population.
Ubalde spoke with CBC News alongside his wife, Maila, outside their Wellington Street church after Sunday morning service.
"We pray for justice," and that those injured are healed, and those grieving find comfort, Maila said.
"I pray that the Lord will comfort them, that the surrounding community, whether they're Filipino or not Filipino, they will be able to extend their help."
The attack has prompted an outpouring of support from local, provincial and federal politicians, and other world leaders, including King Charles III, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, London Mayor Josh Morgan said the city stood with Vancouver's Filipino-Canadian community, and that "such acts of violence have no place in any of our communities."
The incident is the latest horrific car attack to take place in Canada in recent years, of which London is no stranger.
In 2021, four members of a Muslim family out for a walk in west London were targeted and run down by a man in a pickup truck — an act a judge would later deem a "textbook" case of terrorism. It left four members of the Afzaal family dead and a boy, who was nine-years-old at the time, injured and orphaned.
"I am heartbroken by the tragic events at the Lapu Lapu Vancouver festival yesterday evening," posted Arielle Kayabaga, the federal Liberal incumbent running in London West.
Peter Fragiskatos, the Liberal incumbent in London Centre, posted his thoughts were with the victims, their families and all Canadians of Filipino heritage. "Canadians stand with you - now and always."
With initial news reports emerging late overnight, several congregants were still learning more about what had happened.
"We were just watching, and we saw [on] Facebook what had happened in Vancouver," said Joshua Morales. "It's a very great shock for us here, us as Filipino, but it has also shocked the whole world."
Canada is a safe and peaceful place, his wife, Rowena, said. "So when we heard several people [were] killed and several people have injuries, we just pray that justice will prevail."
Another congregant, Ian Lausingco, said he had also learned of what happened on Facebook. "It was really a tragedy for the Filipino community, for sure everyone is sad about it. I'm just hoping that it will not happen again in the future."
The festival was wrapping up when the attack occurred. Witnesses described bodies being sent flying after impact, and videos posted online showed wreckage and victims scattered along the road, which was closed off and lined with food trucks.
Rai, Vancouver's police chief, said hundreds of people were still on the street, and that young people were among those hit. The number of dead, "could rise in the coming days or weeks," he said.
"[The driver] just slammed the pedal down and rammed into hundreds of people," Kris Pangilinan, a former journalist and vendor at the event, told CBC. "It was like seeing a bowling ball hit — all the bowling pins and all the pins flying up in the air."
Crews had lifted a barricade to allow a vehicle to enter, he said. While some cars were being guided carefully through the crowds, one car suddenly plowed through the street at high speed, Pangilinan said.
It was the second time the celebration was held in Vancouver.
London's Victoria Park is set to host a new festival celebrating Filipino culture and heritage in August, and the tragedy in Vancouver is expected to be discussed during security planning.
"We haven't really had a full decision on what to do for our next event yet, but we're gonna be talking about it," said Faith Trigo-Sawyer, a co-organizer of London Fiesta Extravaganza, adding she was heartbroken about the attack.
"We're going to try our very best [to] make this event more safe, and we're gonna make sure that because of what happened ... the security will be better."
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With files from Shaurya Kshatri and The Canadian Press