White nationalist manifesto of Canadian accused of killing Muslim family read in court
The man accused of deliberately mowing down a Muslim family, killing four, in 2021 had his anti-Muslim manifesto shared in court on Thursday during his trial in Canada.
Excerpts from the manifesto, titled “A White Awakening”, were read to the jury, expressing Nathaniel Veltman's hatred for Islam and his opposition to multiculturalism and mass immigration.
Veltman, 22, has been charged with four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder for intentionally driving his truck into five members of the Afzaal family as they were taking a walk in London, Ontario, on 6 June 2021.
In opening remarks cited by local media, prosecutor Sara Shaikh said Veltman had gone out looking for Muslims to kill and that when he passed the family out for an evening walk, he turned his pickup truck around and accelerated, jumping the curb as he drove into them.
Pieces of clothing worn by one or more of the victims from the family of Pakistan origin would later be found embedded in the truck's front grill and bumper.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
Three generations were killed in the incident including 46-year-old Salman Afzaal; his 44-year-old wife Madiha Salman; their 15-year-old daughter Yumna; and 74-year-old grandmother Talat Afzaal. The couple’s nine-year-old son sustained severe injuries but survived the collision.
Veltman was arrested at a nearby mall wearing body armour and a helmet. According to the prosecutor, he was overheard in the background of a 911 call saying, "It was me who crashed into them... I did it on purpose."
As he was being handcuffed, he also told police he wanted to "send a strong message" against Muslim immigration, she said.
Veltman, who pleaded not guilty, is also being charged with terrorism-related offences.
'I am a white nationalist'
In the manifesto, Veltman wrote, “I am a white nationalist. White nationalist is simply wanting to preserve European existence, nothing more, nothing less."
The document calls out "globalist companies and corporatists" as well as "cancel culture" and urges the building of a society where "all white people have a sense of belonging, from the lowest blue-collar worker to the highest professional and members of government,” CBC News reported.
The manifesto says that white people are "facing genocide", "complete replacement" and crimes committed by Muslims, arguing for a "collective resistance to the anti-white hatred".
Additionally, other files were found in Veltman’s thumb drive. Approximately four months prior to the incident involving the Afzaals, he downloaded footage of the mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand, along with the manifesto titled "A Great Replacement," authored by Brenton Tarrant.
A 74-page manifesto and footage of the mass shootings at two mosques, which resulted in 51 fatalities, were discovered, having been downloaded on 15 February 2021, nearly two years after the Christchurch attacks.
Prosecutors closed their case on Thursday after a month of presenting evidence. The prosecution aimed to present that the killings were planned, deliberate and "acts of terrorism". The case marks the first time Canada's terrorism law has been applied in front of a jury in a first-degree murder trial.
The court has excused the jury until Tuesday.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
