SiriusXM radio host and liberal commentator Dean Obeidallah said in a Monday interview with MSNBC that he "is hoping sincerely" the person who carried out a deadly van attack by plowing into pedestrians in Toronto "is not Muslim" because he believes President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE will likely "invoke this to try to further a political agenda."

ADVERTISEMENT

The commentary comes as Toronto police confirmed Monday afternoon that nine people are dead and 16 were injured after a white van jumped a sidewalk on a busy street in Toronto. The driver, whose name and possible motivations have not been released, has been taken into custody.



"Being Muslim myself, of course, and everyone who is Muslim I can tell you right now is hoping sincerely that the person who did this horrible act is not Muslim," Obeidallah told MSNBC's Ali Velshi.



"Because we know what happens. We know the result is a backlash to our community," he continued. "We know that Donald Trump will in all likelihood — not definitely — in all likelihood will invoke this to try to further a political agenda."



Obeidallah hosts "The Dean Obeidallah Show" weekdays on SiriusXM's Progress channel.



Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday more information will be made available on the attack later Monday.



"Our hearts go out to everyone affected. We’re obviously going to have more to say in the coming hours," Trudeau told reporters.



The annual G-7 meeting is taking place fewer than 20 miles from the incident in downtown Toronto, where representatives from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Japan, Germany and Italy are assembled.