Utah mall attack: Indian-origin Muslim worker stabbed 15 times after being asked about his faith

An Indian-origin Muslim man was critically injured after being stabbed multiple times while working at a shopping mall in the US state of Utah in what police are investigating as a religion-motivated attack.

The suspect, identified as 48-year-old Peter Michael Larsen, has been booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on charges including attempted murder and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct. Prosecutors have asked the court to deny him bail, describing him as a "substantial danger to the public" because of his alleged extremist beliefs and references to planned mass-casualty violence.

Attack began after questions about victim's faith

The attack took place at around 2:30 pm inside Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, Utah. The victim, identified by family and friends as Syed Sohail Uddin, was working at a jewellery kiosk when Larsen allegedly approached him and began asking personal questions.

According to witness accounts cited in the police booking affidavit, Larsen first asked Sohail where he was from. After Sohail replied that he was from India, Larsen allegedly asked if he was Muslim.

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"He asked, 'Where are you from?' and he told him, 'I'm from India, my name's Sohail,'" colleague Luna Nunez recalled. "Larsen asked, 'Are you Muslim?' and Sohail said yes, and he just began stabbing him."

Disclaimer: Disturbing visuals. Viewer discretion advised. 

Other witnesses told investigators that Larsen had casually asked Sohail for a bottle of water. As the kiosk worker turned to retrieve it, the suspect allegedly attacked him from behind.

Police said Sohail was stabbed more than 15 times, sustaining serious injuries to his hands, chest and torso, including wounds affecting his heart and lungs.

Shoppers disarm suspect

The assault was brought to an end after shoppers and mall employees intervened.

Witnesses began throwing chairs, shoes and other objects at Larsen in an attempt to distract him before several bystanders tackled him, wrestled away the knife and restrained him until police officers arrived.

"I was throwing anything I could—shoes, a chair, anything," Nunez told local media. "He was stabbing him so viciously. I thought he was going to die."

Larsen was later taken to hospital to be treated for minor head injuries sustained while being subdued before being transferred into police custody.

Police allege religious motive

According to the police booking affidavit, Larsen admitted during questioning that he targeted Sohail because he was Muslim.

Investigators wrote that the suspect confessed he had attacked the victim "with intent to kill him because of his religion (Muslim)." The affidavit further states that Larsen described himself as a "catalyst" and allegedly told detectives that he "intends to kill Muslims."

Those statements have prompted investigators to treat the stabbing as a hate-motivated attack.

Previous criminal history

Court records show Larsen has a history of violent offences.

In 2022, he was involved in an armed standoff in which he allegedly set fire to his own property and threatened firefighters and police officers with a shotgun. He was released on parole in January 2025, about 18 months before the latest incident.

Prosecutors cited that history while arguing that Larsen should remain in custody without bail.

Victim remains in critical condition

Sohail remains hospitalised in critical condition after undergoing multiple emergency surgeries.

His family has launched a fundraising campaign to help pay medical expenses, stating that he does not have health insurance and is the sole breadwinner for his wife and two young children.

Jewellery kiosk owner Adnan Mohammed condemned the attack, saying Sohail had simply been working to support his family.

"He was just working, providing for his family," Mohammed said. "When you kill a human, you're not just killing one guy—you're killing a whole family. There is no space for hate."

The attack has also drawn condemnation from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which urged political and community leaders to speak out against anti-Muslim hatred and extremist rhetoric, warning that such language can fuel acts of violence against minority communities.