Ottawa, Apr 27 (UNI) Multiple casualties were reported after a driver drove into a crowd at a street festival in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday evening, according to local police.

The 30-year-old suspect, a Vancouver man, was arrested at the scene and the investigation is ongoing, the Vancouver Police said in an X post.

The incident happened shortly after 8 p.m. (0300 GMT Sunday) near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street where the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party was taking place, said the police.

Local media reported that a black SUV struck individuals who were either walking or waiting near food trucks, leaving multiple victims lying on the ground.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his shock in his social media account, saying: "I am devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver earlier this evening. We are monitoring the situation closely."

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said: "I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident at today's Lapu Lapu Day event. We will work to provide more information as soon as we can."

Named after a Filipino indigenous leader who fought against Spanish colonization in the 16th century, Lapu-Lapu Day was officially recognized by the province of British Columbia in 2023 and is widely celebrated among the Filipino community in the province.

UNI XINHUA ARN