BC Premier David Eby speaks after Vancouver Filipino festival tragedy

British Columbia Premier David Eby was visibly shaken Sunday afternoon as he spoke for the first time after the senseless tragedy at the Filipino Lapu Lapu Day celebration in Vancouver the day before.

Eby says he sends his condolences to everyone affected and that he stands with the community.

“We’re going to put our arms around them as all British Columbians,” he said. “We are going to stand with them, support them, just like they support us, every single day in this province.

“It’s their turn to get care from us.”

He thanked everyone from across the province who stepped in Saturday night to help out.

“To the people who grabbed the perpetrator and held him for police, who restrained themselves in a moment of what must have been unbelievable restraint to not exact justice right there in that moment, but instead to turn him over to authorities,”.

Eby says he will be speaking with Prime Minister Mark Carney and leaders from the Filipino community Sunday evening. He says he has spoken to the Consul General of the Phillippines and the leaders of every major political party in Canada.