The Canadian deliberately strikes the Muslim family by car, leaving four dead

Two women, one 74 and the other 44, a 46-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl, their parents and daughter, died Sunday evening when suspect Nathan Veltman hit a group of pedestrians in Ontario, writes The Guardian.

The only survivor, a nine - year - old boy, is in a hospital with serious injuries but reportedly is out of danger for life. The victims' family has demanded that names not be published.

Local police commander Steve Williams said on Monday that, according to the investigation, authorities believe this was intentional and that the victims of this case were targeted because of religious faith.

Although the suspect originally fled the scene, police arrested him in a shopping mall parking lot. Veltman had no criminal past. Police still do not know if he is a member of any hate group, and the officers did not reveal what evidence they found to believe the attack was planned.

The town's mayor, Ed Holder, said: “this was an act of mass murder committed against Muslims. I speak for all the people of the city, when I say our hearts are broken. We mourn for the family whose three generations have already perished. ”

Canada's prime minister, Justun Trudeau, said through social networks that he is terrified of news of the attack. “Islamophobia has no place in either of our communities”, he wrote.