London, Ontario truck attack
Part of terrorism in Canada and Islamophobia in Canada
Flowers placed at the scene following the attack
LocationLondon, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates42°59′41″N 81°19′49″W / 42.99484°N 81.33021°W / 42.99484; -81.33021
DateJune 6, 2021 (2021-06-06)
TargetMuslim pedestrians
Attack type
Vehicle-ramming attack, mass murder, hate crime
WeaponPickup truck
Deaths4
Injured1
PerpetratorNathaniel Veltman
MotiveIslamophobia
Convictions

On June 6, 2021, a 20-year old named Nathaniel Veltman rammed a pickup truck into a family of Muslim Pakistani Canadian pedestrians at an intersection in London, Ontario, Canada. Four people were killed and a fifth was wounded. The attack was the deadliest mass killing in London's history. 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.

In Canada's first murder trial involving terrorism charges, a jury found Veltman guilty of four counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder. The judge will decide whether to weigh in terrorism as an aggravating factor during a sentencing hearing in London on January 4–5, 2024.

Attack

At about 8:40 pm on June 6, 2021 in London, Ontario, 20-year-old Nathaniel Veltman intentionally steered his black Dodge Ram pickup truck into five members of a Pakistani-Canadian family waiting to cross the road at the intersection of Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road in London's Hyde Park neighbourhood.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

A grandmother, a father, a mother and two children, the two women wearing traditional Pakistani clothing, were waiting at the intersection after a family walk in Hyde Park when the perpetrator saw the family at the intersection waiting for the light to change. He did a U-turn, and accelerated towards the intersection, steering toward the curb 5 seconds before impact, with the gas pedal fully compressed. With the brakes unused, his truck plowed into the family. He continued at excessive speeds weaving in and out lanes and running red lights down Oxford Street.[1][2]

A witness described being stopped at a red light when the truck sped past her, shaking her car from the force.[6] Another witness described hearing an engine revving and looking up to see one of the victims flying 30–40 feet (10-12m) from the intersection.[7]

One woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and the others were rushed to a hospital, three of them later succumbed to their wounds. One of the children survived with severe injuries [5][8]

According to police, this attack was intentional,[9] and motivated by anti-Muslim hatred.[10] According to a co-worker from Gray Ridge Egg Farms, Veltman was having issues with the steering of his new truck three days before the attack.[11]

The attack was the deadliest mass murder in London's history.[12]

Victims

The five victims were all from the same family and Muslims; most arrived in Canada from Pakistan in 2007.[3] The dead were a 46-year-old husband, his 44-year-old wife, their 15-year-old daughter and his 74-year-old mother.[13] The only survivor, the family's 9-year-old boy was seriously injured.[8] On June 14, a family friend said he was out of the hospital.[14]

Arrest and police investigation

At 8:44 pm, the pickup truck approached a cab parked at Cherryhill Village Mall, about 7 km (4.3 mi) away from the attack.[6] The driver of the truck, Veltman, approached the cab driver, said that he had just killed someone and asked the cabbie to call the police.[15] Speaking on behalf of the traumatized driver, Yellow Taxi London president Hassan Savehilaghi described Veltman as wearing a military-style helmet and a bullet-proof vest which may have been tagged with swastikas, and the truck was covered with blood. Savehilaghi's description was corroborated by a mall maintenance worker who also witnessed the arrest. The driver called 9-1-1 and waved down a passing police cruiser. Veltman laughed and asked the driver to film the arrest.[11]

The perpetrator surrendered to London city police as they arrived in the parking lot.[16] The arresting officer said that the suspect "did not appear upset at all", instead, he was "happy, smiling, ... [and] giddy".[17][18] He was wearing a body-armour-style vest at the time of his arrest,[19] a white T-shift with a cross spray painted on it,[17] and might have participated in an airsoft shooting game that evening before the collision.[11] The initial charge was dangerous operation of a motor vehicle; minutes later, charges of first degree murder and attempted murder were added.[18]

He had no previous connection to the victims[20] and initial reports said he had no known ties to hate groups.[21]

The attacker consulted with a defense attorney and was interviewed by a police detective 4 hours after the arrest between 1:30 and 3:30 a.m.[16][22] The detective offered Veltman food, and repeatedly assured Veltman that he had right to legal counsel and that he was not obligated to speak to police. The perpetrator was still "pumped" and energetic from the attack. He described running down pedestrians as surprisingly easy, yet said he found it "distasteful" a few moments after the attack, and decided to turn himself in instead of going on a "rampage" as he had been planning [16]

The perpetrator stated that he did not plan to plead insanity, would tell the complete truth because he had nothing to lose,[23] and wanted the world to know why he committed a deliberate act of terror.[16][22]

The attacker stated that his motives were "100% politcal", and that he took no personal pleasure in the attacks in what he described as a terror attack. The first was retaliation to what he perceived as "minority on white crime" and Muslim child exploitation gangs in the UK, a common trope on white nationalist sites[16][22] In reality, according to the UK Home Office, "there is no credible evidence that any one ethnic group is over-represented in cases of child sexual exploitation" and that "research has found that group-based offenders are most commonly White."[24] He stated that "they [Muslims] leave you no choice" and identified the family as Muslim based on their clothes.[22] The second motivation was to act as an example to other white nationalists to commit copycat crimes with vehicles and "inspire more young men to stop sitting around and letting this happen".[16][22]

In a second interview conducted the next day around 10 am, Veltman was more subdued, answering with one word answers, and deferring to his lawyer more often.[16]

By June 7, the perpetrator was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.[10][3][25] The London Police Service believe he planned the attack in advance.[26]

By June 9, London police had consulted with the RCMP, the Ministry of the Attorney General and Public Prosecution Service of Canada and determined they would lay terrorism charges, adding that they believed the perpetrator acted alone. Murray Faulkner, retired chief of the London Police Service, pointed out that these were unusual charges as Canadian terror laws are generally designed to prevent imminent threats, not prosecute done deeds. Conviction under terrorism laws requires 1) a criminal act; 2) a political or ideological motives; and 3) most importantly, an intent to frighten or intimidate the public. He stressed that while these terrorism charges were important, the 1st degree murder charges are by far the most serious criminal charges possible in Canada and that Canadians should focus on these crimes.[27][28]

Perpetrator

Background

The perpetrator was 20-year old Nathaniel Veltman, who worked at an egg-packing facility in Strathroy and lived in an apartment on Covent Market Place in downtown London.[21]

Veltman was born December 20, 2000, the son of Mark Veltman and Alysia Bisset, who had married 3 years earlier at ages 23 and 19 respectively. They were a devout family, homeschooling their 5 children and attending the Bethel Baptist Church in Strathroy, Ontario. His father worked in the IT department of a local college. Tax records show that they donated to fundamentalist Christian causes such as anti-abortion groups.[29]

The perpetrator enrolled in the Strathroy District Collegiate Institute for his last two years of high school as his mother filed for divorce. In 2016, she won sole custody of the children. Nathaniel was at the center of a bitter dispute between the parents, and he would move out of the home in 2017 when he turned 16 and it was legal to do so.[29] Divorce records show that the perpetrator was prone to anger, medicated for mental illness, and seen by his parents as "peculiar and challenging", with both agreeing he should continue therapy and be supervised around his younger siblings.[30] Classmates described Veltman as quiet, studious and agreeable, but odd and withdrawn.[29]

By 2018, Veltman was working in an egg-processing plant in the town of Strathroy with other young men from the area. In September he enrolled at Fanshawe College studying architectural drafting. He made friends easily, and moved into a basement apartment with a friend form the plant. Some coworkers describe him as helpful and quick to finish the task of others if they needed to leave early. A co-worker who was raised as a Muslim described him as a proud Christian, and noted he seemed to treat Muslims normally for the four years he worked there.[31] Co-workers said the alleged murders and motivation seemed out-of-character and unexpected, one denying Veltman is a radical terrorist or Islamophobe.[11]

Yet others recall racist rants about Black people and references to antisemitic conspiracy theories about lizard people. Many recall him breaking several cell phones in disgust after watching pornography on his phone while at work. He would often drink heavily at karaoke nights with his friends at the local pub and leave drunk. One friend recalls Veltman recounting that he was fighting demons along the Sydenham river after one binge. Police sources cite 13 minor incidents involving Veltman. He had two arrests, one for breaking into a neighbors house thinking it was his own, and a ticket for public intoxication in March 2019.[29]

Radicalization

According to the police interview on the day of his arrest, the perpetrator first considered committing a terrorist attack on abortion doctors when he was 13 years old, inspired by an assassination of an abortion doctor in the U.S.[32]

In 2019, the perpetrator got involved with fringe political movements such as protests against responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. He volunteered in the 2019 Canada election for the Christian Heritage Party for the riding of Elgin—Middlesex—London. A party member and farmer reached out to him noting his anguish and distress and increased isolation with the COVID-19 pandemic, but did not know of his racist and violent tendencies. In November 2020, Veltman wrote a long email to the farmer, detailing his psychological struggles. They planned to meet for Christmas, but Veltman declared that he was too broke to put windshield wiper fluid in his car and couldn't make the drive.[29]

During this time, he spent a lot of time on the internet doing "research" about what he called media dishonesty and the role of Western governments in covering up crimes committed by minorities against white people. He didn't interact with people who shared his views because he was worried about being put on a government watch list. He told the detective that he "was very paranoid about the feds". He also wants "ethnic autonomy" and to "not give over everything to minorities."[23]

In January, 2021, Veltman bought a 2016 Ram pickup truck and had a bull bar installed. He quipped to a friend that be bought the bull bar to "ram the cops".

The accused said to the police the attack is "politically motivated, 100 percent"; that he read the anti-immigration white supremacist manifestos by the perpetrators of the 2011 Norway attacks, where 77 were killed, and by the perpetrator of the New Zealand mosque attacks, where 51 were killed; and that he wrote a manifesto called A White Awakening, railing against Muslims and "mass immigration".[33]

By May 4, 2021, a month before the attack, Veltman was working on a manifesto explaining his attack. Entitled "A White Awakening", it supported white nationalism, expressed hatred towards Muslims, and called for an end to multiculturalism.[34]

The trial is the first murder trial in Canada involving terrorism charges.[5][35][36]

Shortly after the attack, Crown attorneys charged Veltman with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. He made a court appearance in London on June 10, without a lawyer, so was given time to find one. On June 14, the charges were all upgraded to include terrorism, and the court adjourned until June 21. Many details of the case remained under a publication ban until the jury's verdict was pronounced.[27]

On July 25, 2022, the presiding judge ruled that the trial should be moved from London owing to the intense, emotional local media coverage the case received and concerns that an impartial jury would be difficult to select in London.[37] In January 2023, Regional Senior Justice Bruce Thomas would schedule a 12-week trial for September 2023 in Windsor, Ontario.[38][39][40]

The trial began on September 5, 2023, with the Veltman pleading not guilty to all charges.[41]

On November 16, 2023, the end of testimony and sequestering of the jury for deliberations led to a lifting on a publication ban on evidence withheld in the trial.[42][43][37] After 6 hours of deliberation, the jury found Veltman guilty of 4 counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder.[5] As the verdict was read out, gasps and sobs of the victim's family sounded in the full courtroom. The verdict comes with minimum sentence of 25 years in prison.[44][45][46]

Following the verdict, the defending lawyer for Veltman said his client was “in shock” because of the long prison term that awaits him.[5]

In a hearing on December 1, 2023,[47] the judge scheduled a sentencing hearing in London for January 4 and 5, 2024. It's expected that the hearings will include 68 victim impact statements as well as findings of fact from the judge on terrorism charges that could determine the eligibility of the perpetrator for parole.[48][49]

Reactions

The House of Commons held a moment of silence for the victims.[50] The attack was condemned by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,[50] the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi,[51] the National Council of Canadian Muslims[25] and Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan[52] all of whom called it an act of terrorism motivated by hatred.[50][53] All parties in the Canadian parliament agreed to call "an emergency national action summit to tackle Islamophobia."[54]

A vigil was held on June 8, at the London Muslim Mosque. Premier of Ontario Doug Ford temporarily lifted provincial COVID-19 restrictions in London for it to proceed.[55] Trudeau, Ford and London mayor Ed Holder attended, among thousands more.[56] On June 12, a public funeral was held with hundreds in attendance.[57]

In June 2022, the city of London and other organizations organized an event in honour of those killed as well as to generate awareness about Islamophobia.[58] Over 1000 people attended the event, including Prime Minister Trudeau.[59]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Dubinski, Kate (September 11, 2023). "Jury at murder-terror trial sees video of truck that struck Muslim family in London, Ont". CBC News London. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Maluske, Michelle (September 11, 2023). "'I admit that it was terrorism': Crown lays out case against man accused in London vehicle attack". CTV News Windsor. Bell Media. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Man suspected of killing Canadian Muslim family was motivated by hate -police". Reuters. June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  4. ↑ Gillies, Rob (June 7, 2021). "Canadian police say family run down targeted as Muslims". The Washington Post. AP. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Isai, Vjosa (November 16, 2023). "Canada Convicts White Supremacist in Killing of Four Muslims". New York Times. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 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.
  7. ↑ Thornton, Tamara (September 13, 2023). ""I saw something go flying 30 to 40 feet," witness recounted on day three of Veltman trial". Windsor News Today. Blackburn Media. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Muslim family in Canada killed in 'premeditated' truck attack". BBC News. June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  9. ↑ Dale Carruthers, Jane Sims (June 8, 2021). "Family of pedestrians killed in intentional anti-Muslim attack: London police". London Free Press.
  10. 1 2 "Accused in fatal London, Ont., truck attack on Muslim family makes brief court appearance". CBC News. June 21, 2021. Police say the attack on the Afzaal family was motivated by anti-Muslim hate.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Richmond, Randy; Carruthers, Dale; Juha, Jonathan (June 9, 2021). "Suspect in alleged London hate killings laughed during arrest: Witness". The London Free Press. London, Ontario. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  12. ↑ Juha, Jonathan (June 8, 2021). "Police remain at accused mass killer's downtown London home". The London Free Press. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Muslim family ID'd in fatal truck attack in London, Ont., known for commitment to community". CBC. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  14. ↑ Dubinski, Kate (June 14, 2021). "9-year-old survivor of London, Ont., attack released from hospital, accused also faces terror charges". CBC News. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  15. ↑ Dubinski, Kate (September 12, 2023). "911 call, arrest video played at trial of man accused of killing Muslim family in London, Ont". CBC.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sims, Jane (September 15, 2023). "'I was a ticking time bomb': Jury watches Nathaniel Veltman police interviews". London Free Press. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Dubinski, Kate (September 22, 2023). "Accused killer of Muslim family 'appeared giddy' and was smiling after arrest in London, Ont., court told". CBC.
  18. 1 2 Dubinski, Kate (September 26, 2023). "Man accused in attack on Muslim family 'seemed happy' during London, Ont., arrest, officer tells murder trial". CBC.
  19. ↑ 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.
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. 1 2 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.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 LeBel, Jacquelyn (September 15, 2023). "'I'm going to commit a terrorist attack:' Video shows London police interview with accused". Global News. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  23. 1 2 Dubinski, Kate. "'I didn't have much to lose,' accused killer says after striking Muslim family with pickup truck". CBC.
  24. ↑ Cockbain, Ella; Tufail, Waqas (December 19, 2020). "A new Home Office report admits grooming gangs are not a 'Muslim problem'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  25. 1 2 Lamoureux, Mack (June 7, 2021). "Muslim Family Killed in 'Hate-Motivated' Attack, Canadian Police Say". Vice. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Canadian man who killed four with truck targeted Muslims, police say". The Guardian. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  27. 1 2 Zadorsky, Justin (June 14, 2021). "Terror charges laid against Nathaniel Veltman, accused in London, Ont. vehicle attack". CTV News. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Terrorism charges complex, says ex-London, Ont., police chief". CBC News. June 9, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 Maher, Stephen (October 25, 2022). "An Act of Evil". Maclean’s Magazine. SJC Media. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  30. ↑ McGregor, Glen (June 10, 2021). "Court documents portray London attack suspect as prone to anger, medicated for mental illness". Newstalk 610 CKTB. Bell Media. Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  31. ↑ Bell, Stewart; Russell, Andrew; Rizza, Alanna (June 8, 2021). "London attack was latest of Canada's 'most deadly' form of extremism, national security adviser says". Global News. Corus Entertainment. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  32. ↑ Maluske, Michelle. "Here's what the jury in murder-terrorism trial of accused London, Ont. attacker Nathaniel Veltman didn't hear". CTV News London. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  33. ↑ Freeze, Colin (September 11, 2023). "Accused in London attack told police he was white nationalist, had planned 'rampage,' Crown tells jury". Globe and Mail.
  34. ↑ Sims, Jane (October 4, 2023). "In manifesto, Nathaniel Veltman called for 'violent revolution'". London Free Press. Post Media. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  35. ↑ Loriggio, Paola (November 17, 2023). "Spotlight on Canada's terror laws at trial of man found guilty in London, Ont., attack". CTV News. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  36. ↑ Flanagan, Ryan (June 15, 2021). "Terror charges against London, Ont. attack suspect could be Canadian legal milestone". CTV News. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  37. 1 2 Dubinski, Kate (November 16, 2023). "Jury in Nathaniel Veltman trial into Muslim family killings now into Day 2 of deliberations". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  38. ↑ Paparella, Nick (July 25, 2022). "Change of venue ordered in case of man charged with killing Muslim family in London, Ont". CTV News London. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  39. ↑ Sims, Jane (January 11, 2023). "Trial for man accused of killing Afzaal family moved to Windsor". The London Free Press. Postmedia. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  40. ↑ Staff (January 13, 2023). "Nathaniel Veltman Trial Will Now Move to Windsor Starting in September". 105.7 Strathroy Today. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Nathaniel Veltman pleads not guilty in killing of Muslim family in London, Ont., as jury selection begins". CBC. September 5, 2023.
  42. ↑ Maluske, Michelle (November 16, 2023). "Here's what the jury in murder-terrorism trial of accused London, Ont. attacker Nathaniel Veltman didn't hear". CTV News London. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  43. ↑ Sims, Jane (November 16, 2023). "Nathaniel Veltman trial: What the jury didn't hear". London Free Press. Postmedia. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  44. ↑ Dubinski, Kate (November 16, 2023). "Nathaniel Veltman guilty of 1st–degree and attempted murder in 2021 attack on Muslim family in London, Ont". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  45. ↑ LeBel, Jacqulyn (November 16, 2023). "Nathaniel Veltman guilty of 1st-degree murder, fears remain for Muslim community". Global News. Corus. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  46. ↑ Maluske, Michelle. "London, Ont. attacker Nathaniel Veltman guilty of all charges; judge to decide if killer is a terrorist". CTV News London. BellMedia. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  47. ↑ Paparella, Nick. "Sentencing hearing and possible terrorism designation next in Nathaniel Veltman case". Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  48. ↑ Dubinski, Kate (December 1, 2023). "Man convicted in fatal truck attack on Muslim family in London, Ont., to be sentenced in early January". CBC News. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  49. ↑ Paparella, Nick (December 5, 2023). "Nearly 70 victim impact statements expected at Nathaniel Veltman sentencing". CTV News London. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  50. 1 2 3 Aiello, Rachel (June 8, 2021). "'This was a terrorist attack,' PM Trudeau says as MPs pay tribute to family killed in London, Ont". CTV News.
  51. ↑ Babych, Stephanie (June 7, 2021). "'Join me in grief and anger': Calgary mayor calls for action after deadly attack on Muslim family in London". Calgary Herald. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  52. ↑ 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.
  53. ↑ Jeffords, Shawn; Thompson, Nicole (June 8, 2021). "'Act of evil:' Thousands mourn victims of anti-Muslim attack in London, Ont". MSN News. The Canadian Press.
  54. ↑ Connolly, Amanda (June 11, 2021). "MPs unanimously back call for emergency summit on Islamophobia after London, Ont. attack". Global News. Corus Entertainment.
  55. ↑ Alberga, Hannah (June 8, 2021). "'A province left in mourning': Premier Doug Ford attends vigil for Muslim family struck in deadly targeted attack". CTV News Toronto.
  56. ↑ "Thousands pack London, Ont. vigil as PM Justin Trudeau calls attack on Muslim family an 'act of evil'". CTV News London. June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  57. ↑ "Muslim victims of truck attack given farewell with coffins draped in Canadian flags". Reuters. June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  58. ↑ "Muslim family killed in London, Ont., attack to be honoured with 5 days of events for 1-year mark". CBC. May 11, 2021.
  59. ↑ "Hundreds attend anti-Islamophobia march in London, Ont., in memory of Afzaal family". CBC. June 5, 2022.
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