Community reeling following alleged hate-motivated killing of Muslim family in London, Ont.
Londoners and Canadians across the country are having a difficult time coming to terms with Sunday's alleged hate-motivated attack against a Muslim family that saw four members killed and a nine-year-old boy injured in hospital.
Hundreds of people flocked to the location in northwest London Monday to drop off flowers and pay their respects at the corner of Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road.
Makeshift memorial in London, Ont. after a Muslim family was killed in an alleged hate-motivated attack. (Daryl Newcombe/CTV London)
Mounds of flowers and toys now dot the vacant lot where a family of five were killed Sunday evening by the driver of a pick-up truck.
“I feel like there should be more justice in the world,” said 11-year-old Zain Arwani, whose thoughts were with the hospitalized boy, “He’ll grow up the rest of his life without a sister or parents.
Mayor Ed Holder and Deputy Mayor Josh Morgan circulated through the crowd, speaking to many of the grieving Londoners.
“I feel for the pain of the family, friends, and everyone else,” said Zina Shakir after dropping off a bouquet of flowers.
"They were killed for simply existing, and that’s not okay. We have to call it out," says London Coun. and Muslim Mo Salih.
An emotional Salih discussed how the tragic loss of the family is impacting the Muslim community and must be motivation for all Londoners to push back against hate.
London Police Services Board Chair Dr. Javeed Sukhera tweeted that the community is shattered beyond words.
Questions are being asked about the location of the arrest of the suspect Sunday night. Cherryhill Mall is seven kilometres from the crime scene at Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road but only a block from the London Muslim Mosque, the largest mosque in the region.
Police vehicles were parked at the entrance and exit of the mosque’s property Monday.
"You are safe. We will do whatever is required. To creek our community safe and we stand with the community," said London Police Chief Steve Williams in a news conference Monday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his condolences to those affected Monday, especially the nine-year-old boy still in the hospital.
A spokesperson for the London Muslim Mosque said the community will survive this test through faith. "We will respond to those trying to inflict terror on our community with love," says Nawaz Tahir.
"For the most part Londoners welcome most Muslims including me into the community. The reality is there are so many people in London and around the world who are motivated by hate," added Salih.
Meanwhile, the National Council of Canadian Muslims is calling for an immediate National Action Summit on Islamophobia with federal, provincial, and municipal leaders. A hashtag #OurLondonFamily has been created with the hope Canadians will use it along with changing their social media profiles to the Green Ribbon Against Islamophobia logo.
Green Ribbon Against Islamophobia social media campaign
The Jewish community in London also issued a statement Monday, united in grief over a senseless incident.
"The London Jewish Community is horrified by this murderous act of Islamophobia. Our hearts are heavy and we mourn along with the Muslim community of London Ontario at this unspeakable loss of life. No person should have to live in fear because of their faith or beliefs. Our prayers are with the family and all of Canada’s Muslim communities."
A London Ont. man, Nathaniel Veltman, 20, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in relation.
A masked and socially distanced vigil is planned for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the London Muslim Mosque.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.