London man charged with attack on Muslim women
Police have confirmed a London man has been arrested in connection to reports that Muslim women were assaulted in the city’s southwest end.
The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday after a man allegedly approached a woman wearing a hijab and began yelling derogatory comments toward her in the area of Berkshire Drive and Berkshire Place.
London police said they did not know each other.
According to police, the woman called out for help and another woman came to her aid. The suspect then allegedly assaulted both women and property belonging to one of the victims was damaged.
When a nearby citizen approached, the suspect brandished a knife and threatened all three before leaving the area on foot, according to London police.
When officers arrived, they quickly located the suspect and placed him under arrest.
James Edward Henkel, 79, of London, has been charged with:
- Three counts of assault with a weapon
- Two counts of assault
- Mischief/damage to property not exceeding $5,000
Both women sustained minor physical injuries not requiring medical attention.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) and Hikma Public Affairs Council have both released statements on social media regarding the reported incident.
Hikma stated the woman was with her children at the time.
Hikma said, “The attack [was] by an assailant who was armed with a knife and shouting racist, Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian threats.”
“Let us not forget. Not long ago, a Muslim family was murdered en masse by a white supremacist terrorist and his truck, in London,” said NCCM CEO Stephen Brown. “They were killed because of the same Islamophobia that currently grows across this country with alarming speed.”
Both agencies said resources are being offered to the victims.
The accused is scheduled to appear in London court on Nov. 5.
The investigation has been re-assigned to the London Police Service Hate Crime Unit and is being investigated as a hate- motivated incident.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Killer who stabbed victim 'at least 52 times' dies in B.C. prison
A 72-year-old inmate serving a life sentence for a brutal murder that happened in Chilliwack in 2016 has died, according to the Correctional Service of Canada.
Israeli airstrikes hit the southern suburbs of Beirut after another strike destroyed buildings
The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut on Friday in a series of massive explosions that targeted the leader of the militant group and levelled multiple high-rise apartment buildings.
American woman gets SUV stuck in elevator bay at B.C. casino
A U.S. driver somehow squeezed her vehicle through a parkade hallway at a Metro Vancouver casino Thursday, before getting stuck at an elevator bank.
Hurricane Helene kills at least 44 and cuts a swath of destruction across the Southeast
Hurricane Helene left an enormous path of destruction across Florida and the southeastern U.S. on Friday, killing at least 44 people, snapping towering oaks like twigs and tearing apart homes as rescue crews launched desperate missions to save people from floodwaters.
After decades-long search, northern Ontario man finds vintage vehicle in Larder Lake
A tale about a taxicab hauling gold and sinking through the ice on Larder Lake, Ont., in December 1937 has captivated a man from that town for decades.
2 people caught illegally crossing the International Railroad Bridge into the U.S.: border officials
Two Italian citizens have been apprehended after allegedly illegally crossing over the International Railroad Bridge to the United States.
Former military reservist sentenced for shotgun video calling Liberal MP a 'communist agent' for China
A former Canadian military reservist has been sentenced to house arrest after posting a video of himself firing a shotgun at a picture of a member of Parliament whom he accused of being a 'communist agent' for China.
P.E.I. shellfish festival gastrointestinal illness outbreak largest in province's history: health officer
More than 550 symptomatic people responded to an online questionnaire about a gastrointestinal illness at a Prince Edward Island shellfish festival last weekend.
Family of man who died in incident involving Calgary police issues statement
The family of Jon Wells, a man who died in an incident involving Calgary police earlier this month, say they are seeking time to grieve their loss.