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Utah mall stabbing
A man accused of stabbing a Muslim mall worker multiple times in broad daylight in Utah told police he targeted the victim because of his religion and “intends to kill Muslims,” according to court documents cited by The Independent.
“Muslim mall worker stabbed over 15 times in Utah ‘because of his religion’: Reports Muslim rights group CAIR condemns attack, calls on leaders to ‘reject anti-Muslim hate’ Rabia İclal Turan 15 July 2026•Update: 15 July 2026 A Muslim kiosk worker was stabbed more than 15 times inside a Utah shopping mall Monday by a man who later told police he intended to kill him "because of his religion," according to local media reports citing a probable cause statement”
The attack happened Monday inside Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, where investigators said Peter Michael Larsen, 48, asked the victim about his faith before stabbing him, and the victim, identified by friends as Sohail, was left hospitalized in critical condition.
Police said Larsen was tackled to the ground and subdued by bystanders before officers arrived, and he was booked into the Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of attempted murder and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct, according to court and jail records.
The Salt Lake Tribune, citing Utah Islamic Center Imam Shuaib Din, reported that Larsen asked the victim’s name and religion and requested a bottle of water before the stabbing began as the victim turned away to retrieve it.
Community and advocacy
CAIR condemned the stabbing and called on public officials to reject anti-Muslim rhetoric, with CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad saying, “This horrific attack is yet another reminder that anti-Muslim rhetoric has real-world consequences.”
The Utah Islamic Center’s Imam Shuaib Din told the Tribune that while the attack appeared to target one person, “The whole entire community is a victim because now they all feel unsafe.”
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that bystanders tackled and disarmed the attacker before police arrived, and a judge ordered him held without bail, according to court documents.
KSL NewsRadio reported that police wrote in an affidavit that Larsen “constitutes a substantial danger to the public if released based on his violent actions today, ideologies and pre-planned mass casualty events,” and that he was booked into the Salt Lake County jail for investigation of attempted murder.
Charges and next steps
Police said Larsen was booked into the Salt Lake County jail for an investigation over attempted murder and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct, and court documents cited by The Salt Lake Tribune said the worker suffered more than 15 stab wounds and was hospitalized in critical condition.
“Published on By A Muslim kiosk worker was critically injured after a stranger stabbed him repeatedly at a mall in Utah in an attack police say was motivated by his religion”
FOX 13 News Utah reported that Larsen previously served time in prison after threatening firefighters and police officers with a shotgun in July 2022, and that the Utah Department of Corrections said he was released from prison on January 21, 2025, and was still on parole.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill told KSL NewsRadio that he will wait for the case to be formally submitted, saying, “We are still awaiting reports, but clearly it is something that we will be screening.”
The Salt Lake Tribune said the stabbing reflects growing concerns about anti-Muslim sentiment, while KUTV reported that Larsen admitted to attempting to kill the man for being a Muslim and that police believe he was planning to commit “mass casualty events” in an attempt to kill Muslims.
