A motorist who killed four people when he drove his pickup truck into a group of pedestrians deliberately targeted his victims because they were Muslims, police in Canada said on Monday.
Four members of a family were killed in the incident in London, Ontario, on Sunday and one remains in hospital.
Police said the victims were a 74-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl.
A nine-year-old boy remains in hospital in serious condition.
A man is under arrest and faces four counts of first-degree murder.
“It was pre-planned and premeditated and that’s why first-degree murder charges were laid,” Det Supt Paul Waight told reporters.
Police said the suspect did not know his victims. Police said a black pickup truck mounted a curve and struck the victims at an intersection.
“We believe the victims were targeted because of their Islamic faith,” the London police chief, Stephen Williams, said.
“We understand that this event may cause fear and anxiety in the community, particularly in the Muslim community, in any community targeted by hate,” he said.
“There is no tolerance in this community who are motivated by hate target others with violence.”
Police said they arrested the suspect in the parking lot of a nearby mall.
More details soon …