Man accused of killing members of Muslim family in apparent hate crime appears before judge in Canada

Four members of one family, spanning three generations, were killed when a truck ran them down while they were out for an evening walk near their home in London, Ontario

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the killings a ‘terrorist attack’ and vowed to clamp down on far-right groups and online hate

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A vigil held after four members of a Muslim family were killed in what police describe as a hate-motivated attack at a mosque in London, Ontario, Canada on June 8. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:31am, 11 Jun 2021Updated: 3:08am, 11 Jun 2021

The man accused of killing members of a Muslim family with his vehicle in what Canadian police are calling a hate-motivated attack appeared briefly by Zoom before a judge on Thursday and is due back early next week.

Due to a publication ban, details from the five-minute hearing cannot be revealed.

Nathaniel Veltman, 20, was arrested on Sunday in a London, Ontario shopping centre car park, a short distance from the city’s oldest mosque. He was wearing what appeared to be a body-armour-type vest and a helmet at the time, police said.

Courtroom artist’s sketch of Nathaniel Veltman in a virtual appearance in court in London, Ontario, Canada on Thursday. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP

Veltman, who will next appear in court on Monday, faces four charges of first-degree murder and one of attempted murder.

“It was with utmost shock and horror that I came to hear of the unspeakable crime committed last weekend,” said Mark Veltman, the accused attacker’s father, in an email on Thursday.

“There are no words adequate to properly express my deep sorrow for the victims of this senseless act,” he added.

Police said that Veltman was not known to have links to any hate groups but added that they were still investigating and terror charges were being considered.

London Police Chief Steve Williams told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp that little information is being made public to guarantee the integrity of the judicial process.