“At this time, we are confident that this incident was not an act of terrorism,” the police department posted on Sunday.
At least 11 people have been killed and 20 others injured after a man drove a car into a crowd during a street festival in Vancouver, local police said on Sunday.
The driver has been taken into custody.
The attack happened at 8:14 p.m. local time on Saturday, at the intersection of Fraser Street and East 41st Avenue where the Filipino community was holding its Lapu Lapu Day Block Party, Vancouver Police said.
“We will provide more information as the investigation unfolds,” the police force added.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who changed the scheduling of his campaign events following news of the incident, said the police described it as a “car ramming attack.”
“An investigation is ongoing to determine how and why this horrific attack occurred. Authorities have confirmed one person is [in] custody and it is believed they acted alone.”
Images from the scene show the police investigating a black SUV which has its hood crumpled and engine underneath exposed.
Videos shared on social media show bodies and debris on the ground along a long stretch of road at the festival, with paramedics and police at the scene.
Police said they arrested the suspect, a 30-year-old Vancouver man, at the scene and that its Major Crime Section is overseeing the investigation.
“At this time, we are confident that this incident was not an act of terrorism,” the police department posted on Sunday.
The man was arrested after bystanders initially apprehended him, Interim Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai said at a news conference.
Social media videos showed a man wearing a black hoodie with his back against a chain-link fence, flanked by a security guard and bystanders who were screaming and swearing at him.
“I’m sorry,” the man said while holding his hand to his head.
Rai did not comment on the video, but described the person in custody as a “lone male” who was “known to police in certain circumstances.”
One witness told CTV News he saw a black vehicle driving erratically in the area of the festival just before the crowd was struck.
By Melanie Sun, Omid Ghoreishi and Jacob Burg
