Terrorism charges are being pursued against the London man accused of running down and killing four members of a Muslim family and injuring a fifth.
Nathaniel Veltman, 20, was informed during a court appearance on Monday morning that both federal and provincial prosecutors have consented to moving forward with terrorism proceedings against him.
Veltman was charged one week ago with four counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder in relation to the June 6 attack on a Muslim family in northwest London. The family of five were out for an evening walk when they were run down by a pickup truck that had mounted the curb at Hyde Park and South Carriage roads. The truck sped off after hitting the family.
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 were killed. Nine-year-old Fayez Salman suffered serious injuries, but survived the collision.
Veltman was arrested shortly after, roughly seven kilometers from the collision scene.
London police have said there is evidence the killings were a planned, premeditated act, motivated by hate.
"In addition to the allegation that these murders were planned and deliberate, the further allegation is that they also constitute terrorism offences," said Federal Prosecutor Sarah Shaikh, who was appearing on behalf of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.
She went on to state the attempted murder also constitutes a terrorism offence.
The deputy director of public prosecutions, who is also the deputy for the attorney general of Canada, as well as the assistant deputy attorney general of Ontario both signed their consent to commence terrorism proceedings against Veltman last Wednesday.
The upgraded charges were read aloud in court for clarity and to give Veltman "notice."
Veltman showed no emotion during Monday's proceedings. He stood with his hands clasped throughout the ten minute video appearance from the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre.
When asked by Justice of the Peace Kristine Diaz if he understood the charges against him Veltman responded "yes ma'am."
Fayez Salman, the lone survivor of the attack, was added to a list of individuals Veltman is not allowed to contact.
The 20-year-old part time egg-packaging factory worker has not yet fully retained legal counsel. However, he has been in contact with London criminal defence lawyer Damon Hardy.
Veltman will return to court by way of video on June 21.
An outdoor funeral held over the weekend for the Afzaal family drew hundreds of people to the Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario. Others lined the procession route from the funeral home to the centre.