COVID-19 restrictions in London to be relaxed for Muslim family's vigil

COVID-19 restrictions will be temporarily eased in London, Ontario, so residents can legally gather at a vigil for the family killed in an anti-Muslim attack.

The provincial government is working with the Middlesex-London Health Unit to tweak the rules for Tuesday evening’s ceremony at the London Muslim Mosque parking lot, Premier Doug Ford said in a statement.

Outdoor gatherings are currently capped at 5 people until Ontario enters Stage 1 of its reopening plan on Friday.

“The horrific and deliberate attack on a Muslim family in London has left our province in mourning,” Ford’s office said in a statement.

The premier has cancelled his engagements for the day and will travel to London to attend the vigil.

• See also:
  • Vigil planned for Muslim family killed in London, Ontario hate attack
  • Trudeau condemns Muslim family’s killing as terror attack
  • 4 family members dead in hate-motivated attack on Muslim family in Ontario

The family of five was out for an evening walk on Sunday when a man driving a pickup truck ran them over. Four of the five family members were killed — Salmon Afzaal, 46, Madiha Salman, 44, Yumna Salman, 15, and Yumna’s grandmother, 74. The only survivor was the couple’s nine-year-old son Fayez, who was taken to hospital.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned the act of violence as a terrorist attack and expressed solidarity with the Muslim community during his remarks from Ottawa on Tuesday.

Two fundraisers through LaunchGood and GoFundMe are currently raising money to support the boy.