PURE HATE
Ontario truck rampage that killed three generations of Muslim family branded a ‘terrorist attack’ by Justin Trudeau
CANADIAN Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has branded the killing of four members of a Muslim family as a "terrorist attack".
A girl, 15, her parents, and her grandmother died after they were "deliberately" mowed down on Sunday night as they took an evening stroll in the city of London.
8
8
8
Cops said Nathaniel Veltman, 20, jumped the curb in his truck, smashing into five members of the family - ranging in age from 9 to 74 - and then fled the scene of carnage at high speed.
Detective Superintendent Paul Waight of the London police department said there was "evidence that this was a planned, premeditated act, motivated by hate".
"We believe the victims were targeted because of their Islamic faith," Waight said.
Speaking in the House of Commons today, Trudeau said: "This killing was no accident. This was a terrorist attack, motivated by hatred, in the heart of one of our communities."
"We all hope the little boy can recover from his injuries quickly, even though we know he will live a long time with the sadness, incomprehension and anger caused by this cowardly Islamophobic attack" Trudeau added, briefly switching to French.
"They were all targeted because of their Muslim faith. This is happening here, in Canada. And it has to stop."
'HORRIFIC ACT'
Veltman, a London resident, who was wearing a vest "like body armor", was arrested in parking lot of a nearby mall after the attack.
He has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
The London Free Press named the victims as Syed Afzaal, 46, his wife, Madiha Salman, 44, and their 15-year-old daughter, Yumnah Afzaal.
Syed Afzaal's 74-year-old mother, whose name has not been confirmed, was also killed.
Their 9-year-old son, Faez Afzaal, is in hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Canada's Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair described the attack as a "horrific act of Islamophobia".
"They believe the family was targeted because of their faith, and that the attacker was motivated by his hatred of Muslims," he said.
8
8
8
8
London Mayor Ed Holder called the attack "an act of mass murder perpetuated against Muslims".
"It was rooted in unspeakable hatred," he said.
"The magnitude of such hatred can make one question who we were as a city."
London Police Chief Stephen Williams said there is "no tolerance" in the community for hatred or targeting others with violence.
"We understand that this event may cause fear and anxiety in the community, particularly in the Muslim community, in any community targeted by hate," he said.
Witness Paige Martin told reporters a black truck blasted past her and ran a red light as she was walking, and then she saw "chaos" at the scene.
"It was just absolutely like something that you never want to see," Martin said.
A friend of the family, Zahid Khan, told the Associated Press the family immigrated from Pakistan about 14 years ago.
"They were just out for their walk that they would go out for every day," he said through tears near the crash scene.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was "horrified"; by the attack.
"To the loved ones of those who were terrorized by yesterday's act of hatred, we are here for you," he said in a statement on Monday.
8
"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 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."
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said "justice must be served for the horrific act of hatred that took place".
And in Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack, saying it indicated "growing Islamophobia" in Western countries.
"Islamophobia needs to be countered holistically by the international community," he said on Twitter.
The attack was the worst against Canadian Muslims since a man gunned down six members of a Quebec City mosque in 2017.
The suspect is due to appear in court on Thursday after being remanded in custody on Monday.
By late evening on Monday, a steady stream of mourners was seen arriving near the scene of the attack, dropping off flowers and saying prayers.
One placard read: "When does it stop? Enough."
A in support of the victims' family raised almost C$120,000 ($99,000) in just one hour.
And vigil has been organized at a local mosque on Tuesday night to remember the victims.
Most read in News
"This is a terrorist attack on Canadian soil, and should be treated as such," Mustafa Farooq, head of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The teenage girl who was killed "will be deeply missed by fellow students and staff" at Oakridge Secondary School, the school said in a statement.
London, which has about 400,000 residents, has a large Muslim community and Holder said Arabic is the second-most-spoken language after English in the city.
Topics