What to know about the car ramming attack at a Vancouver street festival

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — A suspect has been charged with multiple counts of murder and police continued their investigation Monday after 11 people were killed when an SUV plowed through a crowd at a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver over the weekend.

Witnesses described narrowly jumping out of the way of the speeding vehicle as bodies flew through the air. Dozens of people were injured. Officials said the suspect, a 30-year-old man, had a history of mental health issues.

There was no early indication of a motive, but police said it wasn't a terrorist attack. The suspect, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, has “a significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals related to mental health," said Vancouver Interim Police Chief Steve Rai.

Lo, a Vancouver resident, was charged with eight counts of second-degree murder in a video appearance before a judge Sunday. He has not yet entered a plea. The Associated Press could not immediately reach an attorney representing him.

Rai said the suspect was arrested after initially being apprehended by bystanders. Video circulating on social media showed a young man in a black hoodie with his back against a chain-link fence, alongside a security guard and surrounded by bystanders screaming and swearing at him.

“I’m sorry,” the man said, holding his hand to his head.

Investigators were collecting evidence at the scene and had executed a search warrant at a Vancouver property, police said.

Those killed ranged in age from 5 to 65, officials said. The youngest was 5-year-old girl Katie Le, who died along with her father, Richard Le, and mother, Linh Hoang, according to Richard’s brother, Toan Le. They were survived by Katie’s 16-year-old brother, who didn’t attend the festival, he said.

Kira Salim, also killed, worked as a teacher and counselor at two schools in the New Westminster School District southeast of Vancouver, the district said in a statement. Salim “was a valued member of our community whose wisdom and care for our middle and secondary school students had a powerful impact,” the district superintendent said.

Thirty-two people were hurt, and 17 were still hospitalized late Sunday, including some in critical and serious condition, the British Columbia Health Ministry said.

“Last night families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, father, son or a daughter. Those families are living every family’s nightmare,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday.

The black Audi SUV sped down a closed street Saturday night and struck people attending the Lapu Lapu Day festival, which celebrates Datu Lapu-Lapu, an Indigenous chieftain who stood up to Spanish explorers in the 16th century.

Vancouver had more than 38,600 residents of Filipino heritage in 2021, representing 5.9% of the city’s total population, according to Statistics Canada, the agency that conducts the national census.

Carayn Nulada said that she pulled her granddaughter and grandson off the street and used her body to shield them from the SUV. She said her daughter made a narrow escape.

“The car hit her arm, and she fell down, but she got up, looking for us, because she is scared,” said Nulada, who described children screaming and victims lying on the ground or wedged under vehicles. Nulada's brother was run down in the attack and suffered multiple broken bones.

Another witness described bodies flying through the air “like bowling pins.”

Vincent Reynon, 17, was leaving the festival when he saw police rushing in. People were crying, and he saw scattered bodies. “It was like something straight out of a horror movie or a nightmare,” he said.

A handwritten note is seen near flowers and the flag of the Philippines at a growing memorial the day after a driver killed multiple people during a Filipino community festival Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Liza Ahyeng, center right, hugs another attendee at a vigil for victims after a vehicle drove into a crowd during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

A woman pays her respects at a memorial for victims after a vehicle drove into a crowd during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Vancouver police examine a black car suspected to be involved at a scene after a vehicle drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday April 26, 2025. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)

A victim covered with a cloth lies near a food truck after a car drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday April 26, 2025. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)

A small shoe lies among the debris and evidence markers on the street while police investigate after a vehicle drove into a crowd Saturday killing multiple people at a street festival, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)

People embrace outside a community meeting for the victims after a vehicle drove into a crowd Saturday and killed multiple people at a Filipino heritage festival, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Liberal Leader Mark Carney, British Columbia Premier David Eby and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim light candles as they visit St. Mary the Vigil South Hill Church as Fr. Expedito Farinas looks on, after a vehicle drove into a crowd during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

People listen to community members speak during a vigil for the victims after a vehicle drove into a crowd Saturday and killed multiple people at a Filipino heritage festival, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Liza Ahyeng wipes away tears at a memorial for victims after a vehicle drove into a crowd during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Gerard Gaba, left, and his mother Wilma Gaba, attend a vigil after a vehicle drove into a crowd during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Visitors pay their respects at a memorial after a vehicle drove into a crowd during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Liberal Leader Mark Carney takes a moment after lighting a candle at a memorial for victims after a vehicle drove into a crowd during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

President Vladimir Putin visited Russia's Kursk region for the first time since Moscow said that it drove out Ukrainian forces from the area last month, the Kremlin said Wednesday.

Putin visited the region bordering Ukraine the previous day, according to the Kremlin.

Ukrainian forces made a surprise incursion into Kursk in August 2024 in one of its biggest battlefield successes in the more than three-year war. The incursion was the first time Russian territory was occupied by an invader since World War II and dealt a humiliating blow to the Kremlin.

Since the end of 2023, Russia has mostly had the advantage on the battlefield, with the exception of Kursk.

Ukraine, the U.S. and South Korea said that North Korea sent up to 12,000 troops to help the Russian army take back control of Kursk, and Russia said on April 26 that its forces had pushed out the Ukrainian army. Kyiv officials denied the claim.

Putin visited Kursk Nuclear Power Plant-2, which is still under construction, and spoke at a closed meeting with selected volunteers. He also told acting Gov. Alexander Khinshtein that the Kremlin supported the idea of continuing monthly payments to displaced families that still couldn't return to their homes.

Disgruntled residents had previously shown their disapproval over a lack of compensation in rare organized protests.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense said that its air defenses shot down 159 Ukrainian drones across the country overnight, including 53 over the Oryol region and 51 over the Bryansk region.

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

In this photo released by the Russian Presidential Press Service on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin, 2nd left, attends a meeting with volunteers at Kursk region, Russia. (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)

In this photo released by the Russian Presidential Press Service on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, speaks with volunteers at Kursk region, Russia. (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)

In this photo taken from video distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Russian servicemen attend a combat training for assault units in an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)