Terrorism or a Case of Mental Illness?

By Alex P. Vidal 

“A tragedy need not have blood and death; it’s enough that it all be filled with that majestic sadness that is the pleasure of tragedy.” —Jean Racine

WILL the truth come out, or it will be “swept under the rug” so as not to alarm the peace-loving people of Canada?

According to the social media post of our colleague in the Philippines, the famous Filipino journalist Jose Mari Kaimo, the suspect in the bloody car ramming attack in Vancouver, British Columbia on April 26 evening “was an IS lover from the Philippines who targeted a Filipino festival in #Vancouver.”

“As usual,” Kaimo wrote, “they say he has had mental health problem.”

Kaimo, 60, vice president of Concerned Doctors and Citizens of the Philippines, also quoted one “Babak Taghvaee – The Crisis Watch @BabakTaghvaee1” as having “Tweeted this 7h ago:” in Kaimo’s Facebook post.

The statement made by Babak Taghvaee as posted by Kaimo contradicted the alleged “claims of the Canadian authorities about the Filipino man arrested over the deadly ramming attack of #Vancouver being just mentally ill.”

“I do not buy (it),” Kaimo quoted Babak Taghvaee as saying in the Tweet.

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“As someone who tracked ISIS activities in Philippines and who has written many analytical reports on their terrorist activities Mindanao Island (sic), I can not fully trust claims of the Canadian government,” Babak Taghvaee’s statement continued as posted by Kaimo.

“Also, a bunch of arrogant Islamists, leftists, liberals and communists as usual have started babbling nonsense down here, accusing me to be liar. I have a message for them: ‘I do not care what you say. I just laugh at the extent of your stupidity.’”

Who is this Babak Taghvaee? Kaimo, who is executive director of Roof Chamber Media Corporation, must have found him or her reliable or credible for posting his or her purported statement in Kaimo’s social media account.

If Babak Taghvaee exists or a real person, must we believe his or her claims hook, line and sinker?

But why did the Canadian crime probers contradict Babak Taghvaee’s claims of terrorism on the part of suspect Kai-Ji Adam,, 30, who has been charged by the British Columbia Prosecution Service with eight counts of second-degree murder?

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According to reports, more charges were possible as Canadian investigators ruled out terrorism and said Lo had a history of mental health issues.

A Vancouver resident, Lo appeared in court April 27 and remained in custody, it was reported.

At east 11 people have been confirmed killed and dozens were injured, some critically, when Lo, allegedly driving a black Audi SUV entered the street just after 8 p.m. Saturday and struck people attending the Lapu Lapu Day street festival.

He was arrested at the scene. Authorities had not released victims’ names as of this writing.

The driver was reportedly suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and was recently discharged from the University of British Columbia (UBC) mental health.

Black Eyed Peas singer apl.de.ap had just finished the festival’s headline performance and left the stage just minutes before the carnage – and later said the “shock and heaviness” of the incident was “hard to describe.”

“Our hearts are broken for the victims, their families, and everyone affected by the tragedy,” said the Filipino singer, whose real name is Allan Pineda Lindo, in an Instagram post April 27.

“I had just finished performing and left the stage minutes before it happened,” he added. “Please keep the victims, their families, and the organizers in your prayers. They need all they love and strength right now.”

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Others who performed at the festival, including Nikkaela, Kaya Ko, Sade Awele and Wavyfay, echoed Lindo’s sentiments.

According to the New York Post, King Charles and Queen Camilla even weighed in, saying in a statement they were “profoundly saddened to learn of the dreadful attack and utterly tragic loss of life.”

“Our hearts and prayers go out to all those whose lives have been shattered by such a desperate tragedy,” they said following the attack in the British Commonwealth nation.

In a statement on X, the Vancouver Police Department reported,

“A number of people have been killed, and multiple others are injured after a driver drove into a crowd at a street festival.”

It added, the incident happened shortly after 8 p.m local time.

Videos from the event organizers on Instagram showed lively cultural dances and song performances throughout the day, with several food trucks and market booths lining both side of the street, reported the CNN.

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“Many families with young children were seen among the attendees.” reported the US news network.

Reuters photos from the aftermath of the incident showed paramedics and ambulances at the scene, with police cordons visible.

Prime Minister Mark Carney mourned the dead and wounded, calling the ramming “horrific” in a statement on X, added the CNN.

“I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver. We are all mourning with you,” he wrote as reported by CNN.

Vancouver’s mayor also offered condolences.

“I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident at today’s Lapu Lapu Day event,” Ken Sim wrote on X as reported by CNN.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time.”

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)