| London, Ontario truck attack | |
|---|---|
| Location | London, Ontario, Canada |
| Coordinates | 42°59′41″N 81°19′49″W / 42.99484°N 81.33021°W |
| Date | June 6, 2021 |
| Target | Muslim pedestrians |
Attack type | Vehicle-ramming attack |
| Weapons | Pickup truck |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Injured | 1 |
| Motive | Islamophobia |
| Accused | Nathaniel Veltman |
| Part of a series on |
| Islamophobia |
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On June 6, 2021, a man rammed a pickup truck into Muslim Pakistani Canadian pedestrians at an intersection in London, Ontario, Canada.[1] Four people were killed, and another was wounded, all from the same family.[2] The attack was the worst mass killing in London, Ontario's history.[3] The attack has been strongly condemned by Canadian leaders, with both Premier of Ontario Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling it a terrorist attack.[4][5]
Attack
On the evening of June 6, 2021, 20-year-old Nathaniel Veltman allegedly drove a pickup truck into a family while they were waiting to cross the street in London's Hyde Park neighbourhood. Four people from the family were killed, and another was wounded - a 9-year-old son from the same family. One member of the family died at the scene, and the others died in hospital.[6] The attacker was arrested in a parking lot seven kilometres away.[7]
Victims
The victims were all from the same family of three generations. They arrived in Canada from Pakistan in 2007.[8] The ones killed were a 46-year-old man, his 44-year-old wife, their 15-year-old daughter and his 74-year-old mother.[9] The wounded victim was a nine-year-old boy who was hospitalized with serious injuries but survived.[6]
Accused
The London Police Service charged 20-year-old Nathaniel Veltman with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.[10] They believe he planned the attack in advance.[11] He was wearing a body-armour-style vest at the time of his arrest,[12] and had no previous connection to the victims.[13] Terrorism charges are currently being considered.[14] He has no known connections to hate groups.[15]
Veltman worked at an egg packing facility and lived in an apartment on Covent Market Place in downtown London, Ontario.[15]
Witnesses
London CBC columnist and Rogers TV host Paige Martin happened to be stopped at a red light before the attack took place. Martin described a black pickup truck speeding past her, with the passing truck's speed shaking her car from the force.[7] Minutes later, Martin arrived at what she described as a gruesome, chaotic scene.[16]
Reactions
The House of Commons held a moment of silence for the victims.[4] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,[4] the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada,[17] the National Council of Canadian Muslims,[10] and Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan[18] condemned the attack as terrorism.
A vigil was held for the victims on June 8, 2021 at the London Muslim Mosque. Ontario Premier Doug Ford temporarily lifted COVID-19 provincial health restrictions in London for the vigil to proceed.[19] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Doug Ford, and London, Ontario Mayor Ed Holder were all in attendance.[20]
See also
References
- ^ "Man suspected of killing Canadian Muslim family was motivated by hate -police". June 7, 2021.
- ^ Gillies, Rob (June 7, 2021). "Canadian police say family run down targeted as Muslims". The Washington Post. AP. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- ^ Juha, Jonathan (June 8, 2021). "Police remain at accused mass killer's downtown London home". The London Free Press. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c "'This was a terrorist attack,' PM Trudeau says as MPs pay tribute to family killed in London, Ont". CTV News.
- ^ "'Act of Evil'". the Canadian Press.
- ^ a b "Muslim family in Canada killed in 'premeditated' truck attack". BBC News. June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ a b Casey, Liam (June 7, 2021). "'Dark day:' Police say five pedestrians run down in London, Ont., targeted as Muslims". The Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ "Man suspected of killing Canadian Muslim family was motivated by hate -police". Reuters. June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ "Muslim family ID'd in fatal truck attack in London, Ont., known for commitment to community". CBC. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ a b Lamoureux, Mack (June 7, 2021). "Muslim Family Killed in 'Hate-Motivated' Attack, Canadian Police Say". Vice. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- ^ "Canadian man who killed four with truck targeted Muslims, police say". The Guardian. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- ^ Carruthers, Dale; Sims, Jane (June 7, 2021). "Family of pedestrians killed in intentional anti-Muslim attack: London police". London Free Press. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ Westoll, Nick; LeBel, Jacquelyn (June 7, 2021). "4 killed in London, Ont. attack likely targeted for being Muslim, police say". Global News. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Zadorsky, Justin; Thompson, Matt (June 6, 2021). "Police say driver 'intentionally' crashed into Muslim family in London, Ont., killing 4". CTV News. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ a b Cousins, Ben; Sachedina, Omar (June 8, 2021). "What we know about Nathaniel Veltman, the man charged in the London, Ont. attack". CTV News. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Gillies, Rob (June 8, 2021). "Canadian police say Muslim family targeted by deadly attack". AP News. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ Babych, Stephanie (June 7, 2021). "'Join me in grief and anger': Calgary mayor calls for action after deadly attack on Muslim family in London". calgaryherald. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Imran Khan [@ImranKhanPTI] (June 8, 2021). "Saddened to learn of the killing of a Muslim Pakistani-origin Canadian family in London, Ontario. This condemnable act of terrorism reveals the growing Islamophobia in Western countries. Islamophonia needs to be countered holistically by the international community" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Alberga, Hannah (June 8, 2021). "'A province left in mourning': Premier Doug Ford attends vigil for Muslim family struck in deadly targeted attack". Toronto.
- ^ "Thousands pack London, Ont. vigil as PM Justin Trudeau calls attack on Muslim family an 'act of evil'". London. June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.