Canadian White Nationalist Found Guilty of Deliberate Murder in Attack on Pakistani Family
In a landmark case, 22-year-old Nathaniel Veltman, a confessed Canadian white nationalist, has been found guilty of first-degree murder for deliberately running over and killing four members of a Pakistani family in Ottawa, Canada. Veltman’s heinous act shocked the nation and put Canada’s anti-terrorism laws to the test.
The victims of this horrific attack were Salman Afzaal, aged 46, his wife Madiha Salman, aged 44, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna, and Salman’s 74-year-old mother, Talat Afzaal. Tragically, the family’s nine-year-old child survived, although they suffered severe injuries.
Following more than five hours of deliberation, a jury of twelve delivered the guilty verdict in Windsor’s Superior Courthouse. The emotional response from onlookers, including members of London’s Muslim community and friends of the affected family, underscored the magnitude of this crime.
In the aftermath of the verdict, Tabinda Bukhari, the family’s representative, expressed the need for additional action to combat all forms of hatred in Canada. She stressed that this attack was not only against the Muslim community, but against the safety and security of all Canadians.
The National Council of Muslims (NCCM) also expressed relief at the verdict, highlighting the significant impact the attack had on Canadian Muslims’ sense of belonging and security within their own country. NCCM head Omar Khamissa emphasized the collective feeling of being targeted and unsafe.
Throughout the trial, both the prosecution and defense acknowledged that Veltman was behind the wheel on the day of the attack. However, Veltman pleaded not guilty, citing mental illness as his defense. Evidence presented during the trial revealed Veltman’s hatred for Muslims and his consumption of far-right and anti-Muslim content online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moreover, a document containing disturbing content was discovered by police after his arrest. Veltman claimed to suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder and attributed his actions to a strict Christian upbringing as well as the influence of magic mushrooms, which he had consumed before the incident.
While Veltman had initially resisted the idea of targeting Muslims, he claimed to have succumbed to an overwhelming urge when he encountered the Afzaal family during a stroll after going out for food.
Veltman’s sentence, which will be handed down at a later date, carries a punishment of life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years according to Canadian law.
This tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the need for continued efforts to eradicate hatred and bigotry from Canadian society. It has prompted calls for stricter measures against white nationalism and a united front against all forms of discrimination and extremism.
As the nation grapples with the repercussions of this senseless act, the hope remains that justice for the victims will bring some solace to their grieving loved ones and reinforce the commitment to a compassionate and inclusive Canada.
Keywords: Canadian white nationalist, deliberate murder, Pakistani family, guilty, Canada’s anti-terrorism laws, first-degree murder, Nathaniel Veltman, Salman Afzaal, Madiha Salman, Yumna Afzaal, Talat Afzaal, Muslim community, National Council of Muslims, Omar Khamissa.
