The driver who allegedly plowed his SUV into a Vancouver Filipino festival on Saturday, killing at least nine, was held by bystanders before police arrived – and was “known” to law enforcement, officials said.

The 30-year-old man, who has not yet been publicly identified, apologized to festivalgoers as he was detained by the crowd until police arrived to arrest him, according to the Vancouver Sun.

He is accused of barrelling his black SUV through the crowd at the Lapu-Lapu Day block party as the celebration was wrapping up around 8 p.m. local time.

Vancouver police inspect the black car believed to have plowed into a crowd at the end of the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver, Canada on April 26, 2025. AP

“The suspect was known to police in certain circumstances,” Vancouver Acting Police Chief Steve Rai told reporters on Saturday night without elaborating.

The driver may also have been suffering from mental health issues, the Vancouver Sun said, citing sources.

The man is believed to have made it onto the busy roadway after a few volunteers removed a barrier during clean-up of the festival.

The driver of the black SUV is accused of killing nine people and injuring multiple others. REUTERS

“We are still working on how this was cordoned off and how this occurred with the vehicle,” Rai said.

Festivalgoer Kris Pangilinan said he saw two volunteers moving a street barrier to allow cars onto the street as workers were breaking down the festival amenities, including food trucks, vendor stands and the stage.

Several vehicles were carefully guided through the narrow street, but the black SUV reportedly floored it into the crowd.

Police investigate the Vancouver street where the deadly incident happened. AFP via Getty Images

“We realized what was happening and everybody started yelling,” Pangilinan told the CBC. “[He] just slammed the pedal down and rammed into hundreds of people. It was like seeing a bowling ball hit — all the bowling pins and all the pins flying up in the air.”

Pangilinan, a former journalist based in Toronto, described the aftermath as a warzone, adding seeing “countless” bodies on the ground.

Another witness ripped into the driver, questioning their motive in the deadly incident.

Acting Police Chief Steve Rai gives an update on the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy. AFP via Getty Images

“I am mad at whoever did that because why would you do that?”Joshua Polintan told the outlet. “I don’t know if it was a hate crime,… but it was just wrong.”

Police have ruled out terrorism, but have not revealed any motive.

“At this time, we are confident that this incident was not an act of terrorism,” the department said on X.

The charges against the driver were unclear Sunday morning.