The mayor of Vancouver says a final report being prepared in the wake of the Lapu-Lapu Day street festival tragedy will look at how to prevent vehicle ramming attacks.
“One of the most urgent challenges we all face is how to protect people from the growing threat of vehicles being used to cause harm,” said Mayor Ken Sim, speaking at a joint city and Vancouver police news conference Friday morning.
Eleven people were killed and dozens more injured after an SUV drove into a crowd just after the festival ended on April 26. The person suspected of driving the vehicle, 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, with additional charges still being assessed by the B.C. Prosecution Service.
Sim said new mobile vehicle barriers recently purchased by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) can be deployed quickly at public gatherings or to emergency events.
A preliminary report released Friday into the Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy says the VPD executive committee approved the $410,000 purchase of two fully equipped Meridian Archer Vehicle Barrier (MAVB) system trailers back in February.
The equipment arrived Thursday, according to the report, and give the VPD “two ‘ready-to-go’ trailers for planned or short notice events.”
“Each trailer is equipped with eight barriers, a rolling access gate, and equipped to block one major intersection, replacing the need for up to two [heavy vehicle barriers],” reads the report.
“Weighing 700 [pounds] each, crash-tested and reusable after impact, the MAVBs do not require hydraulics or electricity and can be deployed by one person.”
Acting VPD Chief Steve Rai said even if the MAVB system had been available for the Lapu-Lapu Day street festival, it would not have been recommended according to the risk assessment done in advance of the event.
“Hindsight is 20/20,” said Rai. “Nothing indicated the need for any change with the organizers from how this event went the previous year. It was classified as a family-friendly event.”
The report says all security requirements were met by Lapu-Lapu Day festival organizers.
Rai said that in the wake of the tragedy, increased safety measures were deployed for events like the Vancouver Sun Run, while additional security is in the works for upcoming events like Pride.
