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2021 London, Ontario, truck attack

SOLVED2021Intersection of Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road, Hyde Park, London, Ontario, Canada3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
London, ON attack memorial
London, ON attack memorial — Credit: AvidLondonerK2001 · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the evening of June 6, 2021, 20-year-old Nathaniel Veltman drove a black Dodge Ram pickup truck into five members of a Pakistani Canadian family who were waiting to cross the road at the intersection of Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road in London, Ontario. Veltman performed a U-turn upon seeing the family and accelerated toward them with the gas pedal fully depressed, striking them without braking. He then continued driving at high speed, weaving through traffic and running red lights, before stopping near a taxi at Cherryhill Village Mall about seven kilometres away, where he told the driver he had "just killed someone" and asked him to call police. He was arrested minutes later.

The victims were members of a single family who had immigrated to Canada from Pakistan, most arriving in 2007. Killed were Salman Afzaal, 46; his wife, Madiha Salman, 44; their 15-year-old daughter, Yumnah Afzaal; and Salman's 74-year-old mother, Talat Afzaal. The couple's nine-year-old son survived with serious injuries. Police described the attack as intentional and motivated by anti-Muslim hatred, and it was characterized as the deadliest mass killing in London's history and the deadliest mass killing in Canada that year.

In police interviews after his arrest, Veltman said his motives were "100% political" and described the attack as retaliation against what he characterized as crimes by minorities against white people, referencing white nationalist tropes about Muslims. He told police he had written a manifesto titled "A White Awakening" and had drawn on manifestos associated with the 2011 Norway attacks and the New Zealand mosque attacks. He was initially charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, followed swiftly by four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder; by June 14, 2021, terrorism charges were added, making this the first Canadian murder trial to include terrorism charges.

The trial was moved from London to Windsor, Ontario, due to concerns about impartial jury selection amid intense local media coverage. It began September 5, 2023, with Veltman pleading not guilty to all charges. On November 16, 2023, after six hours of deliberation, a jury found him guilty of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. On February 22, 2024, Justice Renee Pomerance ruled that Veltman's crimes constituted terrorist activity, calling it a "textbook case," and sentenced him to five life sentences, four with no possibility of parole for 25 years. Veltman filed an appeal on June 6, 2025, challenging the admission of his manifesto as evidence, the admission of statements he made to police, and the denial of a mistrial motion over the Crown's closing statement.

The attack was condemned by Canadian and international leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, all of whom described it as terrorism. Vigils, a public funeral, and later commemorative events were held in London in the aftermath.

Key facts

Victims
Madiha Salman, Salman Afzaal, Yumnah Afzaal, Talat Afzaal
Date
2021
Location
Intersection of Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road, Hyde Park, London, Ontario, Canada
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2021-06-06

    Nathaniel Veltman drives a pickup truck into five members of a Pakistani Canadian family at an intersection in London, Ontario, then is arrested near Cherryhill Village Mall.

  2. 2021-06-07

    Veltman is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

  3. 2021-06-08

    A vigil is held at the London Muslim Mosque, attended by Prime Minister Trudeau, Premier Ford, and London mayor Ed Holder.

  4. 2021-06-09

    London police, after consulting the RCMP and prosecutors, determine terrorism charges will be laid.

  5. 2021-06-12

    A public funeral is held for the victims.

  6. 2021-06-14

    Charges against Veltman are upgraded to include terrorism.

  7. 2022-07-25

    A judge rules the trial will be moved from London due to concerns about impartial jury selection.

  8. 2023-01

    A 12-week trial is scheduled for September 2023 in Windsor, Ontario.

  9. 2023-09-05

    Trial begins in Windsor, Ontario; Veltman pleads not guilty to all charges.

  10. 2023-11-16

    Jury finds Veltman guilty of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

  11. 2023-12-01

    Judge schedules sentencing hearing for January 2024.

  12. 2024-01-04

    Sentencing hearing begins in London, including victim impact statements.

  13. 2024-02-22

    Justice Renee Pomerance rules the attack constituted terrorist activity and sentences Veltman to five life sentences, four without parole eligibility for 25 years.

  14. 2025-06-06

    Veltman files an appeal challenging evidentiary rulings and denial of a mistrial motion.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Madiha Salman

    VICTIM

    44-year-old wife and mother, killed in the attack.

  • Salman Afzaal

    VICTIM

    46-year-old husband and father, killed in the attack.

  • Nathaniel Veltman

    CONVICTED

    Found guilty by jury on November 16, 2023, of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder; sentenced February 22, 2024, to five life sentences after judge ruled the attack constituted terrorist activity.

  • Yumnah Afzaal

    VICTIM

    15-year-old daughter, killed in the attack.

  • Talat Afzaal

    VICTIM

    74-year-old grandmother, killed in the attack.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Archival records

  • London, ON attack memorial

    archival location

    London, ON attack memorial

    Credit: AvidLondonerK2001 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Places

Intersection of Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road, Hyde Park, London, Ontario, Canada

42.9947, -81.3300

View on the map

Common questions

What happened to the victim?
On June 6, 2021, Nathaniel Veltman deliberately drove a pickup truck into a Pakistani Canadian Muslim family at an intersection in London, Ontario, killing four and seriously injuring a fifth. He was convicted in 2023 of first-degree murder and attempted murder, and in February 2024 was found to have committed an act of terrorism and sentenced to five life terms.
Where did the crime happen?
Intersection of Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road, Hyde Park, London, Ontario, Canada.
Who was convicted?
Nathaniel Veltman (Found guilty by jury on November 16, 2023, of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder; sentenced February 22, 2024, to five life sentences after judge ruled the attack constituted terrorist activity.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved. Last verified July 2026.
More cases in Ontario

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDIC2021 London, Ontario, truck attackWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — CBC NewsCBC News · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — CTV NewsCTV News · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026
Last verified against sources
JUL 07, 2026