Nathaniel Veltman, a 22-year-old white nationalist who killed four members of a Muslim family and injured one in London, Ontario, in 2021. He used a truck to run over the Afzaal family, who were walking on the sidewalk. The victims were Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, their daughter Yumna Afzaal, 15, and Salman’s mother Talat Afzaal, 74. Their nine-year-old son was the only survivor .
Veltman is facing charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and terrorism. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecutors say that he was driven by hate and white supremacy, and that he planned the attack for three months. He also wrote a manifesto called “A White Awakening” and said that he was inspired by the 2019 Christchurch shootings .
Veltman’s trial started on September 11, 2023, in Windsor, Ontario, and is expected to last for six weeks. It is the first time in Canada that a jury is hearing a terrorism case related to white supremacy. The case has caused anger and sorrow among the Muslim community and the general public, and has raised issues about the extent and prevention of Islamophobia and far-right extremism in Canada.