Vancouver’s Filipino community has been left in shock and mourning after a car ramming attack left 11 people dead on Saturday. The attack, which took place at the annual Lapu Lapu festival which celebrates Filipino culture, also left dozens wounded. The event’s organisers said the city’s tight-knit Filipino community is “grieving” and that the attack’s impact will be felt for years to come. A 30-year-old suspect – who police said has a history of mental health issues – has been taken into custody. Police have yet to reveal a motive for the attack, but said they do not believe it was an act of terrorism.The attack took place at approximately 20:14 local time on Saturday (03:14 GMT) at East 43rd Avenue and Fraser in the south of Vancouver.At the scene on Sunday, people began laying flowers and paying their respects.One woman doubled over sobbing before walking off. Another woman, named Donna, said she lived in the neighbourhood for more than 50 years.She was at the festival and said it was packed with young people and families.”People were here to celebrate and have fun,” she told the BBC. “This is tragic.”Speaking at a news conference the following day, RJ Aquino, the head of the Filipino BC organisation, said that “last night was extremely difficult and the community will feel this for a long time.””We know that there’s a lot of questions floating about and we don’t have all the answers, but we want to tell everybody that we’re grieving,” he added. Mr Aquino said that the attack caused considerable confusion and chaos in the city’s tight-knit Filipino community, with many residents calling one another to check on their loved ones.”I don’t think my phone has buzzed that much in my entire life,” he said. “There was a lot of panic and, you know, relief, when somebody answers.” At a separate news briefing on Sunday, acting Vancouver police chief Steve Rai said it was the “darkest day” in the …
