Black Eyed Peas singer apl.de.ap revealed that he left the stage just minutes before a madman careered his car through a crowd at the Vancouver Filipino festival where he was performing — killing 11 people and injuring many more.
The Philippines-born rapper, real name Allan Pineda Lindo, offered heartbroken condolences to the victims in a statement on Sunday.
Black Eyed Peas singer apl.de.ap posted an emotional statement on Instagram hours after the deadly attack in Vancouver. Instagram / @apldeap
A driver plowed into the festival crowd, killing at least 11.
“I had just finished performing and left the stage minutes before it happened,” wrote Allan Pineda Lindo in a social media post Sunday. Getty Images“I had just finished performing and left the stage minutes before it happened,” he said on Instagram.
Follow the latest on the Vancouver festival attack
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- Vancouver festival attack death toll rises to 11 as cops say driver had ‘extensive’ mental health history
- Festival musicians speak out after driver plowed SUV into Vancouver crowd
- Vancouver festival attack suspect was ‘known’ to police, apologized to crowd as they detained him after deadly rampage
- Black Eyed Peas singer reveals he left stage just minutes before deadly Vancouver festival attack
- Youngest victim in Vancouver festival attack was just 5 years old, say police, as driver remains in custody
“It’s hard to describe the shock and the heaviness we feel,” he added.
Lindo was headlining the Lapu Lapu Festival on Saturday evening alongside singer J-Rey and had finished performing around 8 p.m. when a 30-year-old man barreled through the revelers in a black SUV just as organizers had begun removing barricades to clean up.
Police officers work at the scene, the morning after a vehicle was driven into a crowd at a Filipino community Lapu Lapu Day block party, in Vancouver. REUTERSDozens of people were injured, and officials cautioned that the death toll is likely to rise.
Lindo included in his post a list of victim services and mental health crisis lines for anybody affected, and asked his fans to keep the victims and their families in mind.
“The one thing I have noticed – from the audience to the messages sent around, is the sense of community that wraps its loving arms around us. We love you all,” he said.
“Our hearts are broken for the victims, their families, and everyone affected by the tragedy.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for more information.
