Four members of an Ontario family were killed in a hit and run in Canada. Police suspect the attacker targeted them because of their Muslim faith.
A man struck and killed four pedestrians with his vehicle in a suspected hate crime, police in the Canadian city of London, Ontario, announced Monday.
"We believe this was an intentional act and that the victims of this horrific incident were targeted," Police Chief Steve Williams said. "We believe the victims were targeted because of their Islamic faith."
"We understand that this event may cause fear and anxiety in the community, particuarly in the Muslim community, in any community targeted by hate," he added.
London Mayor Ed Holder released a statement Monday following the collision late Sunday, saying: "Let me be clear: This was an act of mass murder, perpetrated against Muslims ... rooted in unspeakable hatred. This act of unspeakable hatred, the act of Islamaphobia, must be followed by acts of compassion."
Witnesses told the Global News network they saw the vehicle come over the median strip and added it looked like it had come from the other side of the road.
The 20-year-old alleged attacker struck five people in the hit and run car attack, police said.
Among those killed were a 74-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl, police said. A 9-year-old boy was in a serious condition, but is expected to survive. The family requested the victims names not be relesed.
The driver was arrested in the car park of a nearby mall and faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
www.dw.com
A man struck and killed four pedestrians with his vehicle in a suspected hate crime, police in the Canadian city of London, Ontario, announced Monday.
"We believe this was an intentional act and that the victims of this horrific incident were targeted," Police Chief Steve Williams said. "We believe the victims were targeted because of their Islamic faith."
"We understand that this event may cause fear and anxiety in the community, particuarly in the Muslim community, in any community targeted by hate," he added.
London Mayor Ed Holder released a statement Monday following the collision late Sunday, saying: "Let me be clear: This was an act of mass murder, perpetrated against Muslims ... rooted in unspeakable hatred. This act of unspeakable hatred, the act of Islamaphobia, must be followed by acts of compassion."
Witnesses told the Global News network they saw the vehicle come over the median strip and added it looked like it had come from the other side of the road.
The 20-year-old alleged attacker struck five people in the hit and run car attack, police said.
Among those killed were a 74-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl, police said. A 9-year-old boy was in a serious condition, but is expected to survive. The family requested the victims names not be relesed.
The driver was arrested in the car park of a nearby mall and faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
Canada: 4 people killed in suspected hate crime – DW – 06/07/2021
Four members of an Ontario family were killed in a hit and run in Canada. Police suspect the attacker targeted them because of their Muslim faith.
www.dw.com
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