Terrorism charges laid against London suspect
LONDON, Ont. — Federal and provincial prosecutors are pursuing terrorism charges against the London man already facing murder charges in connection with the hitand-run that killed a Muslim family.
Nathanial Veltman, 20, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the June 6 deaths of Salman Afzaal, 46, Madiha Salman, 44, Talat Afzaal, 74, and Yumna Afzaal, 15. He’s charged with attempted murder in connection with the injuries suffered by Fayez Afzaal, 9.
The family was out for a walk in northwest London when they were struck at about 8:40 p.m. last Sunday.
Sarah Shaikh, a federal prosecutor, told a London courtroom Monday morning that last Wednesday, three days after the Afzaal deaths, the deputy director of prosecution “signed a letter of consent to commence terrorism proceedings against Nathaniel Veltman.”
Shaikh addressed Veltman directly during the video court appearance.
“Mr. Veltman, you are now charged with four counts of first-degree murder. In addition to the allegation that these murders were planned and deliberate, the further allegation is that they also constitute terrorism offences.”
Shaikh said the same applied to the attempted murder charge.
Assistant Crown attorney Jennifer Moser told Justice of the Peace Kristine Diaz that a similar consent was signed Wednesday by Ontario’s assistant deputy attorney-general.
The Afzaal family was out for an evening walk on June 6 in northwest London when they were struck by a black pickup truck. Police allege it was intentional, and they were targeted for being Muslim.
Veltman was arrested a short time later in a parking lot about a five-minute drive from the collision site and one block from the London Muslim Mosque. He was wearing body armour-style gear and a helmet, one witness told Postmedia News.
Alyna Jay, appearing for London defence lawyer Damon Hardy, asked that the case return June 21 for “obtaining a meaningful update on retainer.”
Veltman is a Strathroy native who worked part-time at an egg-packaging factory and lived in a downtown London apartment. He remains in custody at London’s provincial jail, the Elgin-middlesex Detention Centre.
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland reacted to the new charges afterward, saying: “It is really important for us to name it as an act of terror ... and it is important for us identify the terrible threat that white supremacism poses to Canada and to Canadians.”