On Monday, a 20 year old Canadian man killed four members of a Muslim family in a premeditated vehicle attack. The Canadian police has said that a 9 year old boy from the family, the only survivor is in hospital due to grave injuries.
The attacker has been charged with four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
During a press conference, Det Supt Paul Waight said, “It is believed that these victims were targeted because they were Muslim.” He also added that the police are weighing possible terrorism charges, given the murder is believed to be a hate crime.
The family has wished to keep the names of the victims secret. The victims were two women – aged 74 and 44 – a 46-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl. The nine-year-old boy was in hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, the police has informed.
The police arrested the attacker, Nathanial Veltman (20), from a shopping Centre about 6 km from the crime scene. The police has also said that it is not yet known whether the suspect has ties to any hate groups and that Mr. Veltman had no record of convictions.
“There is no known previous connection between the suspect and the victims,” Det Supt Waight said. He also added that the suspect was wearing a vest that appeared to be “like body armor”.
London’s Mayor, Ed Holder said, “This was an act of mass murder, perpetrated against Muslims, against Londoners, and rooted in unspeakable hatred.”
In a statement, the Mayor said he was speaking “on behalf of all Londoners when I say our hearts are broken.”
“We grieve for the family, three generations of whom are now deceased,” said Mayor Holder.
The Canadian PM Trudeau expressed his shock via Twitter, “I’m horrified by the news from London, Ontario. To the loved ones of those who were terrorized by yesterday’s act of hatred, we are here for you. We are also here for the child who remains in hospital , our hearts go out to you and you will be in our thoughts as you recover.”
“To the Muslim community in London and to Muslims across the country, know that we stand with you. Islamophobia has no place in any of our communities. This hate is insidious and despicable – and it must stop,” he said in an additional tweet.
Earlier, the deadliest attack on the Muslim community in Canada happened in the year 2017, when a Canadian man shot 6 worshippers at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre. Five others were left seriously injured.