Milton, Ont., woman identified as Canadian killed in Istanbul attack: reports

“She was a very, very nice girl, full of life and always so stylish,” Saad said of Al-Muhandis, who she said started her own business recently as an event planner. “She was like my little sister.”

Saad, who owns Mosaic Event and Party Rentals in Milton, said she had been working with Al-Muhandis recently.

Mohammed Hamoudi, the president of non-profit organization Mesopotamia Group, said he was shocked to hear of Al-Muhandis’ death.

He said he knew her professionally through her business, Looloo’s Arrangements. She had set up a booth at a cultural event the group organized in April.

In a Facebook post Monday, Conservative leadership candidate and Milton MP Lisa Raitt expressed condolences to Al-Muhandis’s family and neighbours.

Raitt wrote that “we never think that something like this can happen to us in Milton.”

Late Sunday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed a Canadian was killed in the attack that also left as many as 70 others wounded.

“We mourn with the people of Turkey today and with all countries who lost citizens in this vicious attack,” Trudeau said in the statement.

“We also grieve the senseless loss of a Canadian citizen and remain steadfast in our determination to work with allies and partners to fight terrorism and hold perpetrators to account.”

The Islamic State claimed responsibility Monday for the shooting and the lone gunman who carried out the attack remains at large.

ISIL is claiming the attack is revenge for Turkish military operations against the group in northern Syria.

— With files from The Associated Press

Daniela Germano, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Milton, Ont., woman identified as Canadian killed in Istanbul attack: reports

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