A young white supremacist who deliberately ran over a Muslim family near Toronto in 2021 with his van was sentenced today to life in prison for manslaughter and terrorist activity. It is the first time in Canadian history that a violent act involving a white nationalist has been designated as an act of terrorism.

“I determined that his actions constituted an act of terrorism,” said Judge Renee Pomerance, announcing the sentence of life without the possibility of parole after 25 years.

On June 6, 2021, Nathaniel Veltman ran over five members of the Afzaal family who were out for a walk in suburban Landon, Ontario. He killed the two parents, their 15-year-old daughter and the grandmother. Only the family’s 9-year-old son survived, with very serious injuries. Last November, after a six-week trial, jurors found the 23-year-old guilty of four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

“Those who commit terrorist acts hope to attract attention, they plan it. This case is no exception,” Judge Pomerance commented. He noted that the young man had anticipated his arrest and “wanted to attract as much attention as possible”, while after his act he appeared “enthusiastic and proud”.

In Canada, a conviction for premeditated murder carries an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole before 25 years have passed.

Veltman had pleaded not guilty at the start of his trial, while his lawyers disputed premeditation and argued that their client suffers from a mental disorder. Veltman had no criminal record until that time, nor was he associated with any extremist organization. He had explained that his act was a political action and that he wanted to “send a strong message” against immigration.

The attack was one of the deadliest against Muslims in Canada since the massacre at a Quebec mosque in which six people were killed in 2017. The perpetrator of that attack had not been charged with terrorism.