BURST
A preliminary report released Friday by the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Police outlines initial findings into last month’s deadly vehicle attack at the Lapu Lapu Day festival — and signals a coming shift in how the city handles safety at outdoor public events.
“That day was one of the darkest days in Vancouver’s history,” said Mayor Ken Sim at a press conference Friday morning, referring to the April 26 tragedy that killed 11 people when an SUV drove through a crowded street near the close of the festival.
The joint review confirms that planning for the large-scale, family-friendly event had followed all prescribed municipal and police processes.
“All the right steps were taken,” said Sim. “But that doesn’t mean those steps were sufficient.”
At the time of the incident, heavy vehicle barriers were not in place. Police say that only nine of the approximately 3,200 events held annually in Vancouver have previously involved such equipment. Typically, the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Police have relied on dump trucks, vans, trucks, police vehicles and officers to secure perimeters at major gatherings.
The Vancouver Police Department has already spent $410,000 in 16 new mobile vehicle barriers — each weighing 320 kilograms (700 pounds) — to bolster road security at future city events. The barriers, which can be linked together with steel cables, arrived Thursday after being ordered in February.
City officials say they will evaluate how the barriers are deployed in the coming months and assess whether additional purchases are needed.
More detailed findings and recommendations are expected in a final report to city council in late August.
“This review is about learning and making immediate changes to keep people safe at public outdoor events, whether it’s a block party, a parade or a cultural celebration,” Sim said.
More to come