June 6, 2024, means three years have passed since the hate-motivated act that took the lives of four members of a local Muslim family.
The London Muslim community is holding several events to commemorate Talat Afzaal, 74, her son Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, and their 15-year-old daughter Yumnah. The four, along with the youngest family member who was nine at the time, were out for an evening walk on June 6, 2021, when a man ran them down with his truck because of their Islamic faith. Only the Afzaal's son survived the attack.
The man who hit the family was immediately arrested. Last year, following a 10-week trial, he was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. The judge called his actions a "textbook example" of terrorism.
In the wake of the horrific attack, the Afzaals began being affectionately called "Our London Family". Earlier this week, the Our London Family flag was raised at various places throughout the city including at City Hall, University Hospital, Victoria Hospital and area catholic schools. It will continue to be flown until the end of the day Thursday.
Other buildings across the community have been lit up purple and green to honour the Afzaals.
From 7:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, a vigil will be held at South Carriage Road west of Hyde Park Road. Words of encouragement and healing will be shared by community leaders and special guests. All Londoners are invited to attend and are encouraged to bring chairs.
There will be lane restrictions and road closures throughout the day.
Hyde Park Road near South Carriage Road will have lane restrictions from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Additionally, South Carriage Road will be fully closed from Hyde Park Road to Prince of Wales Gate from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Parking will be available at St. John French Immersion Catholic Elementary School (1212 Coronation Drive), the Real Canadian Superstore (1205 Oxford Street) and the RONA north location (1335 Fanshawe Road West).
Shuttle buses will do three pick-ups at the Real Canadian Superstore and RONA parking lots between 7:30 p.m. and 7:50 p.m. and will drop passengers off on South Carriage Road. There will also be shuttle bus pick-ups east of Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road on South Carriage Road between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and return to the same parking lots.
On Tuesday, June 11 the London Muslim Mosque will dedicate a youth lounge in memory of Yumnah.
The dedication ceremony is part of the mosque's commitment to creating a supportive environment for youth and community members.
The event will include remarks from family and community leaders. There will also be a view of the design plan and an unveiling of a commemorative plaque.
Due to limited space, the dedication event will be by invitation only, but the design plan will be available to view during the following days in the week.