National

Arrests after violent end to Vancouver concert

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Sep, 2022 02:53 PM

Vancouver police say seven people were arrested and a criminal investigation is underway after a disturbance Sunday night by fans attending a rap music festival at Hastings Park in east Vancouver.

Police say fights broke out inside and outside the PNE Amphitheatre following the sudden cancellation of the headline act in the final hours of the two-day BreakOut Festival.

The police statement says hostile concertgoers also caused significant property damage to the amphitheatre, other PNE grounds and the surrounding neighbourhood before order was restored.

A statement from the Pacific National Exhibition says damage is still being assessed and it plans to hold a full investigation into the violence.

Police estimate property damage in the "thousands of dollars."

Const. Tania Visintin says the seven people taken into custody were held for breach of the peace, but she says the criminal investigation will likely take months to complete.

“Though this investigation will take time, we will pursue criminal charges against people who participated in this violence and destruction," Visintin says in the statement.

The PNE released a statement thanking police for their "quick and professional response," preventing the situation from escalating.

The organization also apologized to residents in the neighbourhood around Hastings Park, saying it is "incredibly sorry" for the actions of the concert guests.

It is promising a full investigation.

The hip hop and rap artist whose sudden cancellation was blamed for causing the disturbance issued an apology via Instagram early Monday.

Dominique Armani Jones, who performs under the name Lil Baby, says he has been "going hard" for the last few months and his body "completely shut down," forcing him to scrub his part of the concert.

"I truly apologize (to) Vancouver, Canada, the BreakOut Festival and to everyone who was in attendance," Jones writes.

"I owe you guys big time and will for sure make up for it soon."

Jones' debut studio album, "Harder Than Ever," was released in 2018, producing the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 single "Yes Indeed," which he recorded with Drake.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Catalytic converter theft leads to assault on Vancouver woman

On October 4, just before 7:30 a.m., the victim confronted two men who were actively removing the catalytic converter from her vehicle, which was parked near Renfrew Street and East 1st Avenue. The suspects deployed bear spray when the victim approached them. The suspects are still outstanding.

Catalytic converter theft leads to assault on Vancouver woman

StatCan says economy added 157,000 jobs in Sept.

Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate would have been 8.9 per cent in September, down from 9.1 per cent in August, had it included in calculations Canadians who wanted to work but didn't search for a job.

StatCan says economy added 157,000 jobs in Sept.

Tam says reason for optimism in fourth wave fight

Dr. Theresa Tam said the efforts made to slow the spread where the virus is surging appear to be working. She said hard lessons must be learned about the risks of removing public health measures too soon, particularly in areas where not enough people have been vaccinated.

Tam says reason for optimism in fourth wave fight

RCMP union will support members who refuse vaccine

The Liberal government announced this week that core public servants, including members and reservists of the RCMP, must be vaccinated or face suspension without pay as early as Nov. 15.

RCMP union will support members who refuse vaccine

'I can't back down' on vaccine message: B.C. MLA

Politicians accustomed to sparring in British Columbia's legislature have joined forces outside the house to push for higher vaccination rates in the north, but a longtime member of the Opposition Liberals says the "Alberta influence" is a factor in a part of B.C. where intensive care units can't accommodate the influx of COVID-19 patients.

'I can't back down' on vaccine message: B.C. MLA

VPD warns public after woman attacked at bus stop

The victim, a 22-year-old South Vancouver resident, was waiting at a bus stop near Knight Street and East 57 Avenue on October 5, when she was approached by a stranger in a red puffy jacket with a fur-lined hood.