London police arrest, charge suspect in alleged hate-motivated attack
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the attack on social media
Investigators with London Police Service's hate crime unit have arrested and charged a London man in relation to an alleged hate-motivated assault Saturday in downtown Ivey Park.
The suspect allegedly made derogatory comments toward a Muslim man who was with his family, police said. He proceeded to assault the man and remained in the area for around 20 minutes before leaving the park on an e-bike, they said.
On Friday, police charged a 61-year-old with one count of assault.
The incident has been condemned on social media by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), London Mayor Josh Morgan and most recently by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who on X, formerly Twitter, called the attack "abhorrent and unacceptable."
My heart goes out to the Muslim community in London who have faced repeated acts of hate and violence. The attack this week against a Muslim family in a park is abhorrent and unacceptable.<br><br>Islamophobia is deadly, and we need to name it and condemn it—loudly—wherever we see it.
—@JustinTrudeauThe victim in Saturday's incident sustained minor injuries and did not require medical attention, according to police.
The accused remains in custody, police said, and is set to appear in court in relation to the charge.