[Reporter] Flowers and skid marks stain the site of a deadly attack
here is where police say a man motivated by hate
ran down a Muslim family
just out for a walk
actually seeing that and hearing about it
and being right there is just it's
it's awful
[Reporter] Paige Martin drove by the scene just after it happened
she saw people performing CPR
trying to save lives
but a 74-year-old woman died here
a man and woman in their 40's
and a 15-year-old girl were rushed to hospital and died
the lone survivor in hospital with serious injuries tonight
a nine-year-old boy
I have nieces and nephews that are that age
like what are they gonna do
you know it's one of those like
why
they were just out for a walk
[Reporter] a family walk as was their habit
say those who know them
but last night police say a man driving a pickup truck
purposely jumped the curb and mowed the family down
we believe that this was an intentional act
and that the victims of this horrific incident were targeted
we believe the victims were targeted because of their Islamic faith
[Reporter] police arrested the suspect a short distance later
they say he was wearing a vest that looked like body armour
they wouldn't say why they believe hate was the motive
but that revelation has shaken the community
especially those who know the family
it was a beautiful family
and one of the nicest person I have ever known
if it that is true that's really evil
like I can't comprehend
how can someone do that?
[Reporter] This family friend recalls what happened when she heard the news
it's very very very difficult
everyone is screaming and crying
we leave our country to come to Canada to safe
but we are not safe
we are not safe anymore
[Reporter] the mayor of London made it clear
an attack on the city's Muslim community
is an attack on all
Let me be clear this was an act of mass murder
perpetrated against Muslims, against Londoners
and rooted in unspeakable hatred
[Reporter] and today people tried to fight that with love
honouring the victims lost
and the boy whose life is forever changed
So Makda, let's talk about that little boy for a moment
what is your sense of what the community is trying to do for him?
Well we know that there's been an online campaign to raise funds for the boy
that thousands of dollars have already been raised
and this community is going to continue to come together
over the next few days
a vigil has been planned for a mosque in the community
and of course, this memorial
I'm sure will continue to grow
Makda, thank you very much.
And along with the grief and anger
there is of course so much worry for that little boy
earlier I spoke with Abdel Fattah Tawakol
a former Imam of the London Muslim mosque
he knows the family
and those who love them
Imam thank you uh for being with us tonight
and I think
what so many people want to know right now
is there anything you can tell us about
how the little boy is
and what sort of support is there for him?
so the boy had serious injuries
they're considered as non-life-threatening
so we believe that he will survive and get through this
he does have some family supports here
and we will continue to offer whatever that we can for
for the boy and for the extended family
to get past or to get through this tragedy
Imam, I know you've been speaking with people in the community all day
and I'm wondering
what is it overwhelmingly that you are hearing
from them about how they're feeling right now?
right now
understandably there are a lot of raw emotions
we feel that this was an attack on on all of us
because this was something it's
it's a hate-motivated murder and
and this is something that you know as Canadians we
we think that you this is something that is unfathomable
but we've already experienced
just within the Muslim community
three different incidences over the past few years you know
in 2017 the Quebec mosque massacre
and then last year in 2020 the
the brother who was killed at the IMO
and now four members of the same family that are are killed
out of hatred
and so this is something that we need to take a collective stand
and to say that that we will not accept any form of violence
based on on hatred or discrimination
and we really need to take concrete steps
to stand collectively
to say that that we will not accept any of these actions
neither for ourselves within the Muslim community
nor for anyone outside of the Muslim community
it's a collective stance
that draws upon our common sense of humanity
Imam as we're standing here people are bringing flowers
a number of people have said what can they do to help
they know people are afraid within the community
so what can they do?
what could you say to them to help them know what to do right now?
So we acknowledge and and validate you know the
the fears um
members within the Muslim community uh
we've received multiple messages
to ask is it safe for us to to walk the streets
and we want to be able to provide a sense of reassurance
that you know in general our community is safe
but we need to take a stance that
that is collected and so
if you see or hear of any form of of discrimination
or hatred or racism or bigotry
then we have to call it out
and stand against it
unequivocally
Imam thank you very much
we're all thinking of you and your community right now
thank you
thank you I appreciate it