London, Ontario truck attack
| 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 largest mass killing in London's history.[3] It was condemned by Canadian leaders, and called terrorism by Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and Premier of Ontario Doug Ford.[4][5]
Attack[edit]
At about 8:40 pm on June 6, 2021, a man drove a pickup truck into a family while they were waiting to cross at the intersection of Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road in London's Hyde Park neighbourhood. One woman died at the scene, and the others were taken to a hospital.[6] The driver was arrested in a parking lot seven kilometres away.[7]
Victims[edit]
The victims were all from the same family, and most arrived in Canada from Pakistan in 2007.[8] The dead were a 46-year-old man, his 44-year-old wife, their 15-year-old daughter and his 74-year-old mother.[9] The survivor is a nine-year-old boy who was hospitalized with serious injuries.[6]
Accused[edit]
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.[15]
Reactions[edit]
The House of Commons held a moment of silence for the victims.[4] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,[4] the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi,[16] the National Council of Canadian Muslims[10] and Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan[17] condemned the attack as terrorism motivated by hatred.
A vigil was held on June 8, 2021, at the London Muslim Mosque. Premier of Ontario Doug Ford temporarily lifted provincial COVID-19 restrictions in London for it to proceed.[18] Trudeau, Ford and London mayor Ed Holder attended, among thousands more.[19]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
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