London, Ont. Man Convicted in Fatal Attack on Muslim Family Files Appeal
Nathanial Veltman, convicted of the London terror attack that killed the Afzaal family, seeks to appeal his convictions four years after the tragedy.
On the fourth anniversary of the tragic murder of a Muslim family in London, Ontario, Nathanial Veltman, the man convicted of the crime, is now seeking to appeal his convictions. This legal move marks a shift in his previous strategy, as his earlier legal counsel had indicated intentions to contest his sentences rather than the convictions themselves.
The attack, which took place on June 6, 2021, sent shockwaves across Canada and beyond. Veltman was found guilty in November 2023 of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder after he drove his truck into the Afzaal family while they were out for an evening walk. The victims included 46-year-old Salman Afzaal, his wife, 44-year-old Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna, and 74-year-old grandmother Talat Afzaal. The couple’s nine-year-old son suffered serious injuries but survived the attack.
In a landmark ruling delivered in February 2025, the presiding judge declared that the killing of the Afzaal family constituted an act of terrorism. Veltman received a life sentence with no possibility of parole for 25 years. He was also handed a concurrent life sentence for the attempted murder of the young boy who survived the incident.
Veltman’s new lawyer, Stephen Whitzman, confirmed that his client is no longer challenging the sentences imposed, but is instead focusing efforts on appealing the convictions. The appeal is expected to center around what are described as “alleged errors of law”. However, Whitzman cautioned that any decision on whether the appeal will proceed is unlikely before next year, emphasizing that achieving this milestone will require “a lot of labour” from his office.
Whitzman noted that he has not yet met Veltman in person, only communicating via telephone. He also confirmed that Veltman is currently held at an institution outside Ontario, though details regarding his exact location remain undisclosed.
When questioned about Veltman’s motivations, Whitzman clarified that his client is not seeking exoneration. He added that Veltman is not complaining of “anything serious” regarding his present circumstances behind bars.
The appeal comes at a time when the London community continues to remember and honor the Afzaal family, with renewed calls for unity, justice, and the ongoing fight against hate and Islamophobia. The legal proceedings ahead promise to renew attention on a case that has already left a profound mark on Canadian society.
