ONTARIO, 08 June 2021, (TON): Police in the Canadian province of Ontario say a driver intentionally struck a family because they were Muslim, killing four people and seriously injuring a nine-year-old boy in what has been denounced as an ‘act of unspeakable hatred’ and ‘Islamophobia’.

The victims, all members of the same family, were hit while waiting to cross a street in the city of London, about 200km (124 miles) southwest of Toronto.

Police said the victims were two women aged 77 and 44, a 46 year old man and a 15 year old girl. A nine year old boy also was seriously injured and is recovering in hospital. Local authorities did not release the names of the victims.

London Police Service Superintendent Paul Waight said “There is evidence that this was a planned, premeditated act motivated by hate. It is believed these victims were targeted because they were Muslim.”

The attack came amid rising concerns about Islamophobic attacks in provinces across Canada and widespread calls for authorities to tackle racism, hate-motivated violence and the prevalence of far-right groups.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said “he was horrified by what he described as an act of hatred”.