Europe Asia News

Interim police chief Steve Rai told reporters Sunday morning, "This is the darkest day in our city's history," adding that more deaths could occur in the coming days. "It's hard to make sense of something so senseless."

The festival, held on a warm spring day, attracted about 100,000 people, mostly families with young children.

Lapu Lapu Day is named after Chief Lapulapu, a native resistance fighter from the Philippines who led his men to defeat Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.

Saturday’s festival was the city’s second annual event, featuring a street parade, artisan stalls, cultural activities, a major basketball tournament, and local food vendors.

The music group Black Eyed Peas, six-time Grammy Award winners, headlined the concert event.

Police chief Rai stated that authorities were confident the incident was not an act of terrorism and that there had been no known prior threats against the Filipino community. A 30-year-old man driving a black Audi SUV was arrested.