Killing of Canadian Muslim family a hate crime - police

OTTAWA (REUTERS) 7 June 2021 -  Four members of a Canadian Muslim family who were killed on Sunday when a pickup truck which jumped the curb deliberately ran them over. Canadian police said on Monday it was a targeted anti-Islamic hate crime, .   

 “There is evidence that this was a planned, pre-meditated act, motivated by hate,” London Detective Superintendent Paul Waight told reporters, providing no further details.    “It is believed that these victims were targeted because they were Muslim,” Waight said.   

 Police arrested the suspected attacker, 20-year-old Nathaniel Veltman, on Sunday. He was described as a resident of London, Ontario. He has been charged with four counts of first degree murder, and one count of attempted murder.   

 Police said that the family has requested that the names of the victims not be released yet, but they did provide their ages.   

 A 74-year woman died on the scene, a 46-year-old male, a 44-year-old female and a 15-year-old female died after being taken to the hospital, police said. A nine-year-old boy survived and is in the hospital with serious injuries.