Murder charges were filed yesterday against a suspect in a weekend car ramming attack that killed 11 people between the ages of 5 and 65 at a Filipino heritage festival in the city of Vancouver, a tragedy that shook Canada on the eve of a federal election.

The British Columbia Prosecution Service charged Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, with eight counts of second degree murder and said more charges were possible. Investigators ruled out terrorism and said Mr Lo had a history of mental health issues.

Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, has been charged with eight counts of second degree murder following a car-ramming attack in Vancouver that left 11 people dead.

Lo, a Vancouver resident, appeared in court and remains in custody, according to the Vancouver Police Department.

More charges are expected, according to officials.

Lo is accused of driving an SUV into a crowd of people celebrating the Lapu Lapu Day festival. At least 11 people, aged 5 to 65, were killed, and more than two dozen others injured.

• A black Audi SUV charged into a crowd of people who had gathered to attend a Lapu-Lapu day festival, celebrating Filipino culture and community, at a school at 8pm on Saturday night.
• Police have said that 11 people have died so far with expectations that the death toll could rise over the next few days and weeks.
• Victims were a mix of male and female, including young people, with ages ranging from five to 65.

• Not all of the victims have been identified yet.
• Prime minister Mark Carney has said that more than 20 people were injured.
• Police arrested a man in his thirties at the scene of the crime, who had been apprehended by bystanders.
• He is currently in police custody as the main suspect and is known to police and mental health professionals from previous interactions.
• Police are adamant that the incident was not an act of terrorism.

Mark Carney shared his condolences to families in a press conference earlier today.

He said of the victims: “Last night families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, father, son or a daughter. Those families are living every family’s nightmare.”

“And to them and to the many others who were injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver, I would like to offer my deepest condolences.”

Mark Carney will be with British Columbia premier David Eby and other community leaders in the city at some point this evening ahead of tomorrow’s federal election.

Mayor Ken Sim said that Carney had called up to offer his support to the city following the incident and express his sorrow over the attack.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has called for “mandatory care for people with significant mental health challenges or substance use disorder” across Canada.

It is understood mental health played a role in the car-ramming attack on Saturday.

“it’s the most humane thing to do.

“There are people on the streets who cannot direct their own care and they’re causing harm to themselves and other people.”