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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken the unique step of weighing in on a London criminal investigation, expressing his support for the family whose home was torched in what police believe may have been a hate-motivated arson.
Mere days after the third anniversary of the terror attack on the Afzaal family – and a just a short drive from where they were struck in that June 6, 2021, hit-and-run – a Saturday night fire damaged a Wateroak Drive home where pro-Palestine signs had also been stolen and damaged in recent weeks.
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London police say the fire, reported just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday, is being investigated as “a possible hate-motivated incident.” The prime minister issued a statement on social media about the arson.
“My heart goes out to the Muslim family in London whose home was attacked (Saturday) night in an act of hate,” Trudeau wrote. “Canadians have seen how dangerous and ugly Islamophobia is. We have to keep confronting it – wherever and whenever we see it.”
Signs supporting Palestine and the Afzaal family were stolen from the home an hour before the fire, and other incidents involving signs at the house dating back to early May were reported to police. “We have reason to believe that it’s likely the same person,” said London police Det.-Insp. Alex Krygsman.
Investigators released a photo of the suspect, who is described as a man between 30 and 50, with a medium to heavy build. He was wearing grey shoes, dark pants, a light-grey zip-up sweater with black accents under the arms, a dark-coloured toque and a medical mask.
The Afzaal attack – four family members were killed, and a fifth was badly hurt – drew headlines worldwide and trained a spotlight on Islamophobia in London and across Canada. Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s special representative on combatting Islamophobia, attended last week’s third-anniversary vigil and expressed optimism.
“We can find hope, we can stand together with fellow Londoners and fellow Canadians to ensure that we protect the values of social cohesion and equity that we all believe in so deeply,” Elghawaby said.
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