"I'm very shaken up knowing there's kids, multiple kids. "I'm still in shock," said Martin, still visibily emotional. More than a dozen officers could be seen combing the scene of the crash on Monday June 7, 2021, in northwest London, Ont. Hyde Park Road has since reopened to traffic. Nearly a dozen officers could be seen walking side-by-side looking for evidence. Investigators remained at the scene Monday afternoon trying to piece together exactly what led to the deadly crash. There was a lot of pointing and screaming and arm waving."
"Citizens were trying to direct the emergency vehicles where to go. There were people everywhere and running," said Paige Martin. "(My daughter) was saying when we were home: the (child) was crying mommy, and it's dark now."Ī second witness spoke to media Monday morning and described the scene as emergency vehicles arrived. Natasha explained in that moment she shielded her young daughter's eyes as she and her husband noticed two more people lying on the ground. “We saw cars stopping and the first thing we saw was something moving on the corner.when we got closer we saw a kid with black hair,” she said. "Let me be clear, this was an act of mass murder perpetrated against Muslims, against Londoners, and rooted in unspeakable hatred," he said.Įyewitness Natasha, who wished only to share her first name, says she was on her way home from the beach with her family at the time of crash. London Mayor Ed Holder also spoke at the virtual news conference Monday. We will respond to those trying to inflict terror on our community with love." "We will stand strong against hate We will stand strong against Islamophobia. "These were innocent human beings who were killed simply because they were Muslim," said community spokesperson Nawaz Tahir. I want to reassure all Londoners that all of us on the call today and many others stand with you and support you,” Williams said. “We understand that this event may cause fear and anxiety in the community and in particular the Muslim community and any community targeted by hate. London Police Chief Steve Williams expressed his sympathy for the family and for the larger Muslim community Monday. Police didn't release the names of the victims, asking privacy for the family at this time. Veltman made his first court appearance Monday afternoon and is expected to appear again later in the week. Waight added there is no known previous connection between the accused and the victims.
Police also confirmed that the suspect wore a vest similar to body armor during the incident Sunday and that potential terrorism charges are being considered.
"There is evidence that this was a planned, premeditated act and that the family was targeted because of their Muslim faith," said Det.-Insp. Police were at the mall Monday morning but have since left the scene.ĭuring a news conference Monday afternoon, London police confirmed that there was evidence that the incident was hate-motivated but didn't go into specifics as to why. Veltman was arrested roughly seven kilometres away from the scene in the parking lot of Cherryhill Village Mall on Oxford Street shortly after the family was struck.
Sunday, when the driver of a pickup truck, Nathaniel Veltman, 20, of London, allegedly struck five people walking on Hyde Park Road near South Carriage Road. A nine-year-old boy is recovering in hospital from serious but non-life-threatening injuries.Ī family spokesperson has identified the victims as the Salman Afzaal, 46, his 44-year-old wife Madiha, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna, and Salman's 74-year-old mother. have charged a suspect with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder after he allegedly hit five pedestrians because of their Islamic faith, killing four members of the same family.ĭeceased are a grandmother, a husband and wife and their teenage daughter.