Terror charges laid against accused in Canada Muslim attack
Jun 13, 2021, 7:43 PM | Updated: Jun 14, 2021, 12:23 pm
LONDON, Ontario (AP) — Prosecutors laid terrorism charges Monday against a man accused of driving down and killing four members of a Muslim family in London, Ontario.
The prosecution said Nathaniel Veltman’s four counts of first-degree murder constitute an act of terrorism and prosecutors have upgraded those charges under Canada’s criminal code. Police allege the incident was a planned and premeditated attack targeting Muslims.
Veltman also faces one count of attempted murder due to terrorism activity.
The upgraded charges were laid as Veltman made a brief court appearance via video Monday morning. He has yet to enter a plea.
Salman Afzaal, 46, his 44-year-old wife Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal were killed while out for an evening walk on June 6.
The couple’s nine-year-old son, Fayez, was seriously injured but is expected to recover.
Saboor Khan, a friend of the family, said upgrading the charges against Veltman was “the right thing to do.´´
“The family and the community has been terrorized and many of us are afraid to leave our homes,´´ Khan said.
A funeral for the family drew hundreds of mourners to the Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario over the weekend.
Veltman’s next court date is scheduled for June 21.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
