Thousands of people gathered outside the London Muslim Mosque (LMM) Tuesday evening to show support for a Muslim family that was killed in what police say was a targeted attack.
Several mosque members and political party leaders spoke out against Muslim hate and condemned the actions of a 20-year-old man who is accused of driving a truck into five family members who were waiting to cross the road at Hyde Park Road at South Carriage Road at around 8:40 p.m. Sunday evening.
With the extended family's permission, the victims have now been officially identified as Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Afzaal and Salman Afzaal's 74-year-old mother, Talat Afzaal. 9-year-old Fayez Salman is the only family member to survive the tragedy. He remains in hospital with serious injuries, but is expected to recover.
Oxford Street West between Wharncliffe Road North and Proudfoot Lane was closed for several hours to allow patrons to safely gather in the parking lot of the mosque and on Oxford Street to listen to the speeches and tributes.
Those who spoke and attended the vigil donned purple and green ribbons. Purple being the favourite colour of 15-year-old Yumna and green which represents a stance against Islamophobia.
Nusaiba Al-Azem, Second Vice-Chair of LMM opened and emceed the vigil. Following the latest hate attack against those of Muslim faith, Al-Azem said many families, including her own, live in fear that they could be the next target of an Islamophobic attack.
"Families across the city are having difficult conversations with their children and loved ones right now, trying to explain away this venom to their children," Al-Azem said.
LMM Chair Bilal Rahhal said as a member of London's Muslim community, he never thought he would be speaking out on an attack in his city. He added that he hoped he would never have to.
"This city is my city, and this country is my county, as it is your city and your country. Never allow anyone to make you think otherwise because of the colour of your skin, your faith or where you're born," Rahhal said. "This is our city. We're not going to let hate scare us or intimidate us or divide us."
Rahhal added that the community needs the government to take action and invoke policies that will recognize Muslim hate and Islamophobia as a federal crime.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the first of many political leaders to offer condolences during the evening.
"There are no words that can ease the grief of having three generations murdered in their neighbourhood," Trudeau said. "Islamophobia is real. Racism is real. You should not have to face that hate in your communities in your country. This was an act of evil, but the light of the people here today, the light of the lives of the Afzaal family, that will always outweigh the dark. Together we will take action. Together we will find our way forward."
Later on, Mayor Ed Holder called the attack "the darkest hour in London's history."
"This was a terrorist attack, an act of mass murder, and a grotesque expression of hatred rooted in Islamophobia. The magnitude of what’s happened to this family, and to our Muslim community at large, can make us question who we are as a city, and who we are as Londoners," Holder said. "We now live in a time, and in a place, where thousands of Muslims -- our family members, neighbours, friends, and co-workers – the next time they’re out for a walk, and through no fault of their own, may be looking over their shoulders."
Holder went on to ask all Londoners to come together for 9-year-old Fayez while he recovers and navigates the rest of his life without his family.
"In what kind of community, what kind of city, and what kind of country will that recovery take place, both physically and spiritually? It must not be one where his clothing, and his religion marks him for death. And, it must not be one where hatred such as that which claimed the lives of his family is allowed to fester, in ways both subtle and overt."
London Police Chief Steve Williams offered a message of commitment to the Muslim community on behalf of the police service.
"I want to speak directly to those who are feeling unsafe or who are living in fear as a result of this incident. Know that there will be no tolerance in this community for individuals who are motivated by hate and who target others with violence or acts of terror. We will do our part to bring those individuals to justice," Williams said.
LMM announced the community is welcomed to attend the Multi-Faith March To End Hatred that is scheduled to take place on Friday at 7 p.m. The marchers will depart from the place of the crash at Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road and will conclude at the mosque on 151 Oxford Street West approximately 90 minutes later.