A man in London, Ontario, has been sentenced to life in prison for using his pickup truck to kill four members of a Muslim family in what a Canadian judge ruled as an act of terrorism. The 23-year-old man, Nathaniel Veltman, was also sentenced to a concurrent life sentence for the attempted murder of a boy who survived the 2021 attack.
Veltman was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder for intentionally hitting the Afzaal family with his truck while they were out for a walk. Prosecutors argued that Veltman's actions were meant to intimidate Muslims into leaving Canada, while the defense claimed he had mental health problems.
Justice Renee Pomerance, who presided over the trial, delivered the sentencing decision, stating that Veltman's actions constituted terrorism. She emphasized that the severity of the crime warranted the strictest penalty under Canadian law, with no chance of parole for 25 years for first-degree murder.
This case marked the first time Canada's terrorism laws were applied in a first-degree murder trial. Pomerance concluded that Veltman's motive and intent were clear acts of terrorism, targeting the victims solely because of their Muslim faith.
The Afzaal family members were visibly emotional during the sentencing, with some embracing each other after the judge's ruling. They expressed the need to confront hate and build solidarity with other communities and faiths to combat white supremacy and terrorism.
During the trial, it was revealed that Veltman was influenced by extremist right-wing internet content and held white supremacist beliefs. He admitted to planning the attack to intimidate the Muslim community and inspire others to commit similar acts of violence.
Veltman testified that he felt an 'urge' to target the Afzaal family based on their appearance and religious attire. He expressed white nationalist beliefs in a manifesto and video confession, detailing his motivations for the attack.
Despite offering an apology for the pain he caused, Veltman's words were dismissed by the victims' family as insincere. His lawyer mentioned the possibility of an appeal following the sentencing.
