'We can't even walk on the street': Winnipeg Islamic community holds vigil, calls for change in wake of London, Ont., attack
Members of the Islamic community in Winnipeg are mourning the deaths of four members of an Ontario family killed in an alleged targetted attack.
About 250 vehicles packed the parking lot of the Winnipeg Grand Mosque on Thursday evening in the wake of the hit-and-run in London, Ont.
Salman Afzaal, his wife Madiha, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna and Salman's 74-year-old mother were killed when a truck mounted a curb and hit them.
Nine-year-old Fayez Afzaal survived and is recovering.
"People need to know that real lives are affected and impacted – we now have to pick up the pieces of our community's heart and put it back together," said Shahina Siddiqui, the executive director of the Islamic Social Services Association.
The vigil was organized by the Manitoba Islamic Association to honour the Afzaal family. Amid the mourning were calls for change.
"I believe there will be a next one if we don't do anything," Siddiqui said.
She pointed to previous attacks in Canada, including a 2017 shooting at a Quebec mosque that killed six Muslim men.
"It is unfortunate that something so horrific has to happen and over and over again," she said.
"We've come to this now. We can't even walk on the street."
Organizers at the vigil called for Canadian leaders to immediately address hate, racism and Islamophobia.
Eleven-year-old Ali was at the rally with his parents and four siblings. He said he would like to see Canadians make some changes in their own lives.
"If people would respect one another, instead of hurting each other because this has been going on for way too long," he said.
It's a call for change he says is needed before history repeats itself once again.
A funeral for the four members of the Afzaal family is planned for this Saturday in London.
Nathaniel Veltman, 20, is facing four counts of first-degree murder in connection to the attack. The charges have not been proven in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.