On Saturday, hundreds participated in the funeral of a Canadian Muslim family who were killed when a man ran them over with a pickup truck in an attack that police described as hate-motivated. The four victims, spanning three generations of the family, were struck by Nathaniel Veltman (20) while they were out for an evening walk near their home in London, Ontario. A fifth family member is recovering in the hospital from injuries sustained. Police indicated that the attack was deliberate and that the family was targeted because they were Muslim.
The funeral began with the arrival of the coffins containing the four bodies, wrapped in the Canadian flag, at the Islamic Centre in Southwestern Ontario, where prayers were held, and other family members received condolences from religious and community leaders. Following that, the victims were buried in a private ceremony. Pakistan’s ambassador to Canada, Raza Bashir Tarar, stated during the funeral: "The stark reality of the coffins wrapped in the Canadian flag is a living testimony that the entire Canadian nation stands with them." The family moved from Pakistan to Canada about 14 years ago. The attack has sparked widespread outrage across Canada and has been condemned by politicians from various backgrounds.
