EDITORIAL – We must find the reason for ‘senseless’ attack at Filipino festival

 An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

AS CANADIANS head into an all-important federal election, they will be haunted by the scene of a black SUV speeding into a crowd of people at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver.

At this writing, the death toll has risen to at least 11, with many others injured. This act of mass murder is being called “senseless,” as such things often are. But, of course, “senseless” means having no purpose, and simply doesn’t apply, because there’s always a reason. Not a good or acceptable reason, but a reason.

So, why did the 30-year-old man suspected of this terrible carnage do such a thing? Was it an act of terrorism in the name of some misdirected cause? Was it a spontaneous reaction in response to a perceived insult? Perhaps racial hatred against the Filipino community?

In the immediate aftermath, it appears to be none of those. Police don’t suspect terrorism as the reason, and other possibilities don’t fit either.

There’s a clue, though, in the fact that the suspect was known to police via a “significant history of interactions” with healthcare professionals related to mental health. Which raises the distinct possibility that he suffered some sort of psychotic episode and simply went berserk.

Another possibility that can’t be ruled out is the one of sought-after notoriety. Some mass murderers want their names to go down in history.

It may seem crass speculation to wonder about motive so soon after so many people have been tragically affected but it’s an important analysis. Until we can stitch together a likely cause or motive, we won’t know how to go about preventing it from happening in future.

If it was mental derangement, all we can do is continue trying to make improvements to mental healthcare and, perhaps, implement some new protocols aimed at predicting disastrous outcomes. A daunting challenge indeed.

If was a case of seeking notoriety, we can stop publishing the names of suspects, thereby robbing them of exactly what they want.

Whichever it is, authorities must obviously review strategies for establishing protective measures at public events that involve large crowds. The Filipino festival was regarded as having a low level of threat of attack. That assessment turned out to be tragically wrong.

Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and is a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.