Prime minister weighs in on alleged hate-motivated London arson

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken the unique step of weighing in on a London criminal investigation, expressing his support for the family whose home was torched in what police believe may have been a hate-motivated arson.

Mere days after the third anniversary of the terror attack on the Afzaal family – and a just a short drive from where they were struck in that June 6, 2021, hit-and-run – a Saturday night fire damaged a Wateroak Drive home where pro-Palestinian signs had also been stolen and damaged in recent weeks.

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London police say the fire, reported just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday, is being investigated as “a possible hate-motivated incident.” The prime minister issued a statement on social media about the arson.

“My heart goes out to the Muslim family in London whose home was attacked (Saturday) night in an act of hate,” Trudeau wrote. “Canadians have seen how dangerous and ugly Islamophobia is. We have to keep confronting it – wherever and whenever we see it.”

Signs supporting Palestinians and the Afzaal family were stolen from the home an hour before the fire, and other incidents involving signs at the house dating back to early May were reported to police. “We have reason to believe that it’s likely the same person,” London police Det.-Insp. Alex Krygsman said.

Londoner Nehal Al Tarhuni, president of the Canadian Palestinian Social Association, expressed frustration Monday that “anti-Palestinian hate” continues to be on the rise.

“This attack is another example of that,” she said. “It’s not the first time we have heard of these attacks but this is the most severe attack.”

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Al Tarhuni and other members of the Muslim community denounced the attack at a news conference on Monday afternoon near the home in northwest London that was set ablaze. An official from the National Council of Canadian Muslims also attended the news conference.

Al Tarhuni, who is a friend of the family whose home was set on fire, said someone removed a pro-Palestinian sign on the front lawn of the home a few weeks ago.

She said when the family replaced it the person returned and shredded the sign with a utility knife in the middle of the night and left a note that read: “If I see you putting the f***ing free Palestinian sign up  again – I am warning you.”

Last week, again, the family replaced the sign but this time more than a dozen neighbours also displayed the sign, Al Tarhuni said.

“They put signs on their street to show solidarity with their neighbours,” she said.

A couple of days before the arson, the culprit returned to the home and stole all the signs before dousing their front step with a liquid, Al Tarhuni said.

She said the incident has left the London Palestinian community shaken and worried.

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“To so arrogantly think your opinions, prejudice and bigotry is more valuable than a human life,” Al Tarhuni said.  “It makes me sick to my stomach, I feel unsafe in my own city, in my own country.”

Investigators released a photo of the suspect, who is described as a man between 30 and 50, with a medium to heavy build. He was wearing grey shoes, dark pants, a light-grey zip-up sweater with black accents under the arms, a dark-coloured toque and a medical mask.

The Afzaal attack – four family members were killed, and a fifth was badly hurt – drew headlines worldwide and trained a spotlight on Islamophobia in London and across Canada. Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s special representative on combatting Islamophobia, attended last week’s third-anniversary vigil and expressed optimism.

“We can find hope, we can stand together with fellow Londoners and fellow Canadians to ensure that we protect the values of social cohesion and equity that we all believe in so deeply,” Elghawaby said.

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