Carney reflects on murders of Muslim family on fourth anniversary of deaths

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday marked the fourth anniversary of a hate-motivated vehicle attack that took the lives of four members of a Muslim family in London, Ont., in 2021.

Carney called the deadly truck attack on the Afzaal family a “heinous act of terrorism” during a speech at an Eid al-Adha celebration hosted by the Muslim Association of Canada in Ottawa.

The driver of the vehicle in the attack was convicted of terrorism, four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in 2023.

Mourad Mhiri, chair of the board for the association, said the truck attack was “something that taught us that Islamophobia is real.”

“In (the Afzaal family’s) memory, we want to reaffirm our commitment to building a Canada that protects all of its people, including the Muslim community,” he said at Friday’s event.

“Where discrimination should have no place, where Muslim contributions are celebrated and where our children can walk freely across this country.”

Carney also remarked in his speech on the values of Eid, such as community, sacrifice and generosity.

He acknowledged this year’s Eid celebrations were happening in the shadow of the brutal conflict in Gaza.

A handful of people in attendance chanted “free Palestine” before Carney started to speak, although his speech went on uninterrupted.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.