The Canadian Bazaar
TORONTO: Calling it a `devastating loss’ to the community, London (Ontario) police service chief Steve William says the four members of a city family, who were killed when they were struck by a pick-up truck while walking in the city’s northwest end on Sunday evening, were targeted because they were Muslim.
“We believe this was an intentional act and that the victims of this horrific incident were targeted. We believe the victims were targeted because of their Islamic faith,” the police chief said while speaking to the media on Monday morning.
The family were out for a walk when they were hit.
While a 74-year-old woman died on the spot, three others – a 44-year-old woman, a 44-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl – succumbed to their injuries in hospital. A nine-year-old boy remains in hospital in serious injuries.
Though police have not released the names of the victims, a media outlet has identified the killed couple as Syed Afzaal and Madiha Salman, 46 and 44, and their teenager son as Yumnah Afzaal, 15. Their orphaned nine-year-old son has been identified as Faez Afzaal.
The 20-year-old driver of the pick-up truck, identified as Nathaniel Veltman, charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
Police say the killings were premeditated as the driver was wearing a vest that looked like a body armour during the crash and he could face terrorism charges.
The accident happened around 8.40 pm when emergency crews responded to reports of pedestrians being struck by a vehicle on Hyde Park Road just south of South Carriage Road.
The suspect was arrested a short time later without incident.
