Child among 11 dead after vehicle drives into crowd at street festival in Vancouver

Eleven people were killed, including a five-year-old child, when a vehicle drove into a crowd at a street festival in Vancouver, police have said.

Vancouver Police said a man drove into a large group of people at the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party - named after a national hero of the Philippines - near 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street at around 8.14pm local time on Saturday. The force said a 30-year-old suspect, who is from Vancouver and "known" to them, was arrested at the scene after bystanders intervened.

In a press conference on Sunday, Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Constable Steve Rai said dozens more were injured as well, some seriously, and that the number of dead could rise. He also said the oldest victim was 65.

Mr Rai added he was confident the attack was not "an act of terrorism" but described it as "the darkest day in our city's history". "I can also tell you that the person we have in custody does have a significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals related to mental health," he said.

During questions from reporters, Mr Rai was pressed on whether the road where the incident took place, which housed food trucks, should have been better closed and blocked off ahead of the event before the incident. Mayor of Vancouver Ken Sim, in a later press conference, said: "It would appear mental health appears to be the underlying issue here." It was the second year the Lapu Lapu festival has been held, with J Rey Soul of the Black Eyed Peas listed among the performers.

Police said there were up to "a few thousand" people in attendance, although the crowd size was fluid. Video posted on social media showed victims and debris strewn across a long stretch of road, with several people lying immobile on the ground.

A black Audi SUV with a crumpled front section could be seen in photos from the scene. One witness told Canadian broadcaster CTV News he saw a black vehicle driving erratically in an area of the festival just before the crowd was struck.

Another, Yoseb Vardeh, the co-owner of food truck Bao Buns, said in an interview with Postmedia he didn't see the driver but heard "an engine rev". "I got outside my food truck, I looked down the road and there's just bodies everywhere," he said.

"He went through the whole block, he went straight down the middle." Other witnesses told how they were in the shopping area of the festival when they heard a vehicle revving before a loud bang. Abigail Andiso said she saw at least 20 people lying on the ground, dead and injured.

"Everyone is panicking, everyone is screaming, and like nobody knows what to do," she said. James Cruzat described the scene as "heartbreaking" and "really shocking".

"You couldn't even think really, really well. You couldn't do anything but to pray for them," he added.

The incident comes as Canadians prepare to head to the polls to choose a new prime minister on Monday. In a news conference held on Sunday afternoon, current Prime Minister Mark Carney described the incident as a "car ramming attack".

He praised the actions of those on the scene and first responders. Mr Carney added: "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." Mr Carney previously delayed his campaign movements after the attack. Read more from Sky News:Chris Eubank Jr taken to hospital after beating Conor BennCounter-terrorism police investigating after two women injured Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he was "shattered to hear about the terrible incident" and his country's consulate in the city was working with the Canadian authorities.

The King and Queen were among those to offer their condolences, saying they were "profoundly saddened to learn of the dreadful attack". In a statement on X, King Charles said: "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." A post on the festival's Instagram page said: "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." Jagmeet Singh, the leader of Canada's New Democratic Party, was among those at the event, but left minutes before the vehicle arrived, according to CTV. "This is so horrific, I don't even know what to say," he told the broadcaster.

"I was just there, and I just imagine the faces of the kids that I saw smiling and dancing." British Columbia Premier David Eby also posted to say he was "shocked and heartbroken.