'Kind-hearted and forgiving:' Friend describes Salman Afzaal
A long-time friend of the man killed on Sunday in London, Ont. says he still can't believe he's gone.
Forty-six-year-old Salman Afzaal, along with his mother, Talat Afzaal, 74, and his wife, 44-year-old Madiha Salman, and their 15-year-old daughter Yumna all died after being struck by a pickup truck.
Their son, nine-year old Fayez Salman, remains in hospital.
A 20-year-old London man, Nathaniel Veltman, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in the case.
"He was a big family man. He was also always at the mosque…people will always remember him for his smile, for his presence," says Dr. Ahmed Hegazy.
Hegazy says he met Salman 14 years ago when both were newcomers to Canada.
"Salman was really a very kind-hearted and forgiving individual, he held no grudges against anybody, he always greeted people with a very warm smile, went out of his way to help people, very easy to become friends with."
When news broke about the horrific incident on Hyde Park Road, Hegazy, who works in the Intensive Care Unit at London Health Science's Centre's University Hospital, says he was in shock.
"It didn’t hit me until I actually saw Salman, my friend, in the pictures, that they were talking about my friend Salman and his family. I was in disbelief. It was unreal. And, and then it hit me again that it was an act of terrorism."
With his close friend and three other members of the family all gone, Hegazy says his attention, like others, is turning to the lone survivor, Fayez .
"He has a lot of healing to do, but I’m sure he’ll do fine. I can’t imagine the pain he will go through, the trauma, I do think though the community will stand up to support him, his uncle is in town, and the entire community is raising funds, making sure he’s taken care of….and I’m sure he’ll pull through, and he’ll be just as good as his parents, as a Canadian."
Hegazy says the large turnout for the vigil on Tuesday night was heart-warming and he is uplifted by the support from Londoners and convinced the community will get through this together.
"This our greater London family, it means a lot to see everybody, from the churches, the synagogues, everybody in London coming to our support. It really emphasizes the fact that what happened on Sunday was not normal.
"What happened on Sunday was by a very small minority in this country, who really want division, wants us to hate each other, and we’re not going to surrender to terror, we’re not going to surrender to hate. Love will win hate."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Manitoba mom praises quick-thinking fire department for freeing daughter stuck in playground equipment
A Manitoba mother is praising firefighters for their quick work in helping her daughter who got stuck at a playground in Lorette, Man.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.