Prosecutors in Canada are pressing terrorism charges against a man accused of mowing down a Muslim family with a pickup truck, killing a family of four.
The prosecution said on Monday that Nathaniel Veltman's actions warrant an upgrade to terrorism charges.
Five members of the Afzaal family were out for a walk in London, Ontario — around 125 miles (200 kilometers) southwest of Toronto — on June 6, when a truck driver, Veltman struck them on purpose, according to authorities. Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha, 44, their daughter Yumna, 15, and Salman’s mother Talat, 74, were all killed. The couple’s nine-year-old son Fayez survived but was seriously injured.
The attack has fueled debate about the prevalence of Islamophobia in Canada, and heightened fears within the Muslim community that outward signs of religious affiliation can make a person a target.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also described the incident as a terrorist attack, saying it was motivated by hatred.
The attack was the deadliest against Canadian Muslims since a shooting at a mosque in Quebec City that left six people dead in 2017.
The prosecution said on Monday that Nathaniel Veltman's actions warrant an upgrade to terrorism charges.
Five members of the Afzaal family were out for a walk in London, Ontario — around 125 miles (200 kilometers) southwest of Toronto — on June 6, when a truck driver, Veltman struck them on purpose, according to authorities. Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha, 44, their daughter Yumna, 15, and Salman’s mother Talat, 74, were all killed. The couple’s nine-year-old son Fayez survived but was seriously injured.
The attack has fueled debate about the prevalence of Islamophobia in Canada, and heightened fears within the Muslim community that outward signs of religious affiliation can make a person a target.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also described the incident as a terrorist attack, saying it was motivated by hatred.
The attack was the deadliest against Canadian Muslims since a shooting at a mosque in Quebec City that left six people dead in 2017.
