The suspect in a Canadian car-ramming attack that left 11 dead at a Filipino street party at the weekend has been charged with murder, police said, adding that additional charges were anticipated.
The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, of Vancouver, was charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, according to the Vancouver Police Department.
Mr Lo, who appeared in court before returning to police custody, was alleged to have acted deliberately and had a history of mental health problems, police said.
No motive has been confirmed for the Saturday evening attack, which killed 11 people between the ages of five and 65, in the western city of Vancouver, though terrorism was ruled out by police.
The ramming shocked the country a day before a general election dominated by US President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian products and his threat to annex his northern neighbour, long a key ally and trading partner.
Police chief Steve Rai said the suspect drove a black Audi SUV and had a "significant history" of interaction with police and mental health care professionals.
The Filipino community had gathered in Vancouver's Sunset on Fraser neighbourhood when festival goers were hit by the SUV.
The celebration called the Lapu Lapu Festival commemorates a Filipino anti-colonial leader from the 16th century.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a brief address to the country, teared up as he addressed the tragedy.
He later visited Vancouver, arriving with flowers in hand to attend a church vigil held in honour of the victims of the attack, according to the CPAC broadcaster.
"Last night families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a son, or a daughter," he said. "Those families are living every family's nightmare."
Footage posted online and verified by AFP shows the vehicle with damage to the front parked on a street littered with debris, metres from first aid crews tending to people lying on the ground.
Eyewitness Dale Selipe told the Vancouver Sun that she saw injured children on the street after the vehicle rammed into the crowd.
"There was a lady with her eyes staring up, one of her legs was already broken. One person was holding her hand trying to comfort her," Ms Selipe told the newspaper.
'Bodies everywhere'
Festival security guard Jen Idaba-Castaneto told a local news site that she saw bodies everywhere.
"You don't know who to help, here or there," she said.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said in a social media post: "I am shocked by the horrific news emerging from Vancouver's Lapu Lapu Day Festival..."
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said in a statement he was "completely shattered to hear about the terrible incident."
Saturday's event featured a parade, a film screening, dancing and a concert, with two members of the Black Eyed Peas featured on the lineup published by the organisers.
Lapu Lapu Day is celebrated in the Philippines in remembrance of Indigenous chief Lapulapu, who led his men to defeat Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in battle in 1521.
"This is the darkest day in our city's history," Vancouver police said in a statement.
Britain's King Charles, Canada's head of state, said yesterday he was "profoundly saddened" by the deaths.
Canadians go to the polls today after an election race where candidates have wooed voters on issues including rising living costs and standing up to Donald Trump.
Mr Carney is favoured to win after assuring voters he can stand up to Washington's barrage of sweeping tariffs and threats of annexation.
