A man facing terrorism charges for allegedly targeting and killing a Muslim family with his truck in southwestern Ontario appeared in court via video on Monday.
Posted Jun 22, 2021, 05:17AM EDT
A man facing terrorism charges for allegedly targeting and killing a Muslim family with his truck in southwestern Ontario appeared in court via video on Monday.
Nathaniel Veltman, 20, faces four first-degree murder charges and an attempted murder charge that prosecutors allege constitute an act of terrorism.
Veltman, who is in the process of retaining a lawyer, stood quietly with his hands clasped in front of him as he appeared via video wearing orange prison-issued clothing.
His next court date has been scheduled for June 28.
Police have said the attack on June 6 in London, Ont., was motivated by hate against the Islamic faith.
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.
The couple’s nine-year-old son, Fayez, was seriously hurt.
The attack prompted a massive outpouring of support for the family and calls for all levels of government to address Islamophobia.