Canadian police say family run down targeted as Muslims

People gathered outside in Toronto. A vehicle struck a family of five and targeted them because they were Muslims, in London, Ontario, police said Monday. (AP)

• Four members of the family were killed in the incident and one remains in hospital
• “We believe the victims were targeted because of their Islamic faith,” Police Chief said

TORONTO: A family of five, who were struck by a vehicle, were targeted because they were Muslims, Canadian police said Monday.
Four members of the family were killed in the incident and one remains in hospital.
The incident occurred Sunday evening when a truck plowed into the group of pedestrians.
Police in London, Ontario said the victims are a 74-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl.
A nine-year-old boy remains in hospital in serious condition. The family requested the names not be released.
A man is under arrest and faces four counts of first-degree murder.
Police said suspect Nathaniel Veltman, 20, a resident of London, Ontario, did not know his victims. Police said a black pickup truck mounted a curve and struck the victims at an intersection.
“We believe the victims were targeted because of their Islamic faith,” London Police Chief Stephen Williams said.
“We understand that this event may cause fear and anxiety in the community, particularly in the Muslim community, in any community targeted by hate,” he said. ‘’There is no tolerance in this community who are motivated by hate target others with violence.”
Police said arrested the suspect man in the parking lot of a nearby mall.