Today marks the second anniversary of the London Truck Attack. On June 6, 2021, four members of a family were killed when Nathaniel Veltman drove his pickup truck onto a pedestrian crosswalk in London, Ontario. Police investigations found that the attack was motivated by anti-Muslim hatred. The perpetrator was initially charged with four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, but the charges were upgraded to include terrorism. Although many details are under a publication ban, we can make initial estimates regarding the attack costs and how the attack was planned and perpetrated.
Perpetrator and Attack Details
Veltman moved to London, Ontario about six months prior to the attack to attend Fanshawe College. He was employed part-time at the Gray Ridge Egg Farms and rented an apartment in downtown London. Although Veltman did not have any known ties to hate groups or a criminal record, police believed he planned the attack in advance and was motivated by anti-Muslim hatred.
At around 8:40 pm on June 6th, 2021 Nathaniel Veltman drove his pickup truck into five members of a Muslim Pakistani-Canadian family at an intersection while they were waiting to cross. After striking the family, Veltman drove off and approached a cab parked at a mall about 7 kilometres away from the site. He told the driver he had just killed someone and asked him to call the police. Veltman was arrested upon their arrival.
Weapons and Equipment
Veltman used his black Dodge Ram pick-up truck to conduct the attack. Police reports suggest officers wanted to search the truck for a machete, a knife, an airsoft rifle, and an axe. Due to the remaining sealing orders on the search warrants, it is unclear whether the items were found. Depending on the condition and year of the vehicle, the truck can cost upwards of $40,000-$50,000 to purchase. How Veltman acquired the vehicle and whether it was paid off is also unknown.
Veltman was arrested while wearing a military-style helmet, and a body-armor-type vest. The attire likely cost him between $100-$200. If he drove the 10 kilometres from his apartment to the scene of the attack, the fuel would have only cost him a few dollars.
Operational Security
Veltman used the dark web on his electronic devices to search and browse hate-related material. Police additionally found a piece of paper outlining speeds and percentages – potentially for calculations used while planning the ramming attack. Veltman might have preferred to research and document his plans using physical notes to avoid creating an online trail of his activities. The operational security measures he used to maintain his anonymity online and plan the attack likely did not cost Veltman anything.
Funding the Attack
Similar to the 2019 Toronto Truck ramming conducted by Alek Minassian, the London Truck attack was relatively inexpensive to conduct. Veltman likely raised the couple hundred dollars required to plan and execute the ramming through his income at the Egg Farm. We will learn more about the attack and potentially additional financing details after Veltman’s trial begins on September 5, 2023.
This type of attack (self-financed, low complexity) might be part of broader terrorist adaptation to avoid networks and financial footprints — all things that can ‘tip off’ law enforcement and security services to a potential attack. This creates challenges for detecting and disrupting these types of attacks; but as this case demonstrates, some of the best places to detect the planning for ideologically-motivated violent extremist attacks is likely in forums, propaganda sites, and other areas where these ideologies are shared.
Do you want to navigate the complex world of illicit financing more effectively? Upgrade your subscription to paid to get expert guidance, and access to over 270 articles. And if you want to expense your subscription, I’ve got a draft email you can use for that purpose! If you want to learn more about how to analyze terrorist financing and design effective counterstrategies, join our course below.