World Report - April 27: Sunday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: April 27, 2025

Vancouver police confirm 9 people died after a car drove into crowd at Vancouver street festival.Final day of campaigning for leader before federal election tomorrow.Green Party fighting for its survival this election.

1942, Europe. Soldiers find a boy surviving alone in the woods. They make him a member of Hitler's army. But what no one would know for decades, he was Jewish. Could a story so unbelievable be true? I'm Dan Goldberg. I'm from CBC's personally, Toy Soldier. Available now wherever you get your podcasts. This is a CBC Podcast. This is World Report. Good morning. I'm Timberley Gale.

Late yesterday evening, I and all Canadians were shocked, devastated and heartbroken. Prime Minister Mark Carney speaking a short while ago about Vancouver's mass casualty. Nine people were killed when a man drove an SUV into a crowded street festival. More than 20 others were injured. The regional health authority has declared a code orange mass casualty event. It happened at a Filipino street festival in East Vancouver. We'll hear more from Carney shortly, but first, let's go to the CBC's Lindsay Duncombe. She spent most of the night at the scene of the attack.

Lindsay, what are we hearing from police? We have gotten a couple of significant updates. Police now say that nine people were killed as a result of that vehicle crashing through the crowd at the block party that was a celebration of Filipino culture and we have also learned from police that they do not believe that this was an act of terrorism. At an earlier briefing, police officers didn't answer any questions about motive. Here is more from Acting Police Chief Stephen Ryan. Everyone is fully supporting the family and members and we're going to continue to do

so throughout this ordeal as we piece together what's occurred here. As part of that support, the Vancouver police have set a community centre as a place for people to go if they're uncertain about the condition of loved ones and there's also a phone number to call. Lindsay, can you take us through what actually happened? Well, the festival was just wrapping up. The final performance had ended and people were beginning to leave. When people say it looked as though some bystanders had moved a barricade to allow traffic to come through and

that's when they say this black SUV came into the crowd and then accelerated. Here is what one of the witnesses, he is a vendor, someone who was selling vintage clothes at the festival and here's what he told us about what he saw. He just pushed the gas all the way through the whole block right there crashing into like everyone in his way. I heard like a bunch of like crashing and stuff then I walked down like not even like half the block I just saw like a bunch of bodies and everything there's just like a bunch of screaming. And what is remarkable about what unfolded in that mayhem is that police say it was actually bystanders, people who were in the middle of that, who managed to hold

down the suspect and keep him contained until police arrived and were able to make an arrest. What we know about the man they have in custody is that he is in his 30s. At a news briefing earlier, a Police officers said that he was known to police and we will of course be looking for more details in the briefings to come. Alright, thanks for this Lindsay. You're welcome. The CBC's Lindsay Duncombe in Vancouver. Chris Pongolinam was there when it happened. He says it all began just when the crowd was starting to clear.

It was normal because it seemed like everyone was starting to tear down for the day. So what was normal about it was that they let a car in, they lifted the barrier and let a car in slowly. This car slowly started to pick up speed and then hit someone on his right side. And then by the time that we all noticed that he hit someone, we started yelling and he slammed the pedal down on the gas and just rammed into hundreds of people. It was like seeing a bowling ball hit all the bowling pins and all the pins go flying up in the air. There were bodies that were just flying up and you just see them like twisted

in so many different ways. And it just kept going and going and going. People were screaming and trying to run away. And after, moments after, like there were bodies on the floor, non-responsive. People were trying to drag and help people up and some people were just died on impact. Eye witness Chris Pongolinam, he spoke with CBC News Vancouver.

There's plenty of reaction in this country but also from across the world, from the Philippines, we're hearing from the country's president. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says he is shattered to hear about the terrible incident. He says the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver is working with Canadian authorities to ensure there's a full investigation. Buckingham Palace is also reacting to the tragedy. In a statement, King Charles says he and his wife are profoundly saddened to learn of the attack and loss of life, adding their hearts and prayers go out to all those whose lives have been shattered by the attack.

You heard a little bit from our Prime Minister a few minutes ago. Mark Carney addressed the incident earlier this morning. Last night, families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a 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, I would like to offer my deepest condolences and my wishes for strength and compassion in this tragic time. I know that I join all Canadians in mourning with you. I know that Canadians are united with you. To the Canada, et' avec vous. We will comfort the grieving.

We will care for each other. We will unite in common purpose. The Liberal campaign has announced it is delaying a number of events that were scheduled for today. Leader Mark Carney was scheduled to make stops in Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC. We're also hearing from Conservative leader Pierre Pauliev. He addressed the incident while in Mississauga, Ontario. I know that today will be a day of prayer and reflection for the Filipino community and for all Canadians. And I want you to know that all of our country is with you today as you mourn this terrible loss. And we thank you for welcoming who have been lost and for those who survive

in mourning their loved ones, their brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, all of them will have a deep hole in their hearts today. We will try to fill it with the love of the entire country. Conservative leader Pierre Pauliev speaking from a church in Mississauga, Ontario, this morning. The NDP has cancelled all campaign events. This is in light of the incident last night. New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh and his team had just left the Lapu Lapu Day festival when it happened. I was there. I just imagined the faces of the kids that I saw smiling and dancing. I

imagined the aunties that were there. I imagined just, I don't know what to say. It's just, it's horrific. I'm heartbroken. And I just want the Filipino community to know that we stand with you. Everyone is with you. Everyone is standing with you. This is a pivotal moment for the Green Party, both co-leaders trying to ensure their party's survival. It's at risk of being wiped off the electoral map tomorrow, with polls suggesting the party's two seats could be overturned. The CBC's Olivia Stefanovich has more.

It's a very unusual election. After 14 years of serving as an MP on Vancouver Island, Elizabeth May is running in the race of her life. The Green Party co-leader is in a three-way contest with the Liberals and Conservatives, battling to keep her usually safe seat in the riding of Saanich Gulf Islands. I can't use my right hand for knocking on doors anymore because my knuckles have gotten very sore. CBC's poll tracker shows the Greens hovering at 2% in support, the worst level the party has seen in recent history. People that are looking for a change.

Michael Prince is a political scientist at the University of Victoria. He says concerns about affordability, Canada's sovereignty and the trade war with the US are squeezing May and her party's focus on climate change out. They're at risk of really falling in the background. Eddie Shepard is president of Insights at the polling firm Abacus Data. He says 70% of Canadians are still worried about the environment, even though the issue has fallen to the wayside in this federal election.

Having a party that really advocates and pushes for climate action and resilience is something that the country needs. Voters will ultimately decide on Monday if Greens continue to champion that work or cease to exist in the House of Commons altogether. Olivier Stivanovich, CBC News, Ottawa. Recapping our top story, Vancouver police say nine people are dead and multiple more are injured after a person drove a vehicle through a crowd at a street festival. They say the 30-year-old driver is in custody.

And that is the latest national and international news from World Report. I'm Kimberly Gale. This is CBC News.