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🇮🇱 Israel /Crime & Justice

Muslim man stabbed multiple times in Utah hate crime, police say

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A Muslim man was repeatedly stabbed in a Utah mall, with the suspect allegedly stating his intent to kill Muslims.
  • Bystanders subdued the attacker before police arrived; he faces attempted murder charges.
  • The incident is being investigated as a hate crime amid rising Islamophobia in the U.S.

A man has been arrested in Utah for allegedly stabbing a Muslim man multiple times inside a mall, with authorities reporting the suspect stated his intention to kill Muslims. Police records indicate the suspect, identified as Peter Michael Larsen, 48, told officers he "intends to kill Muslims" and poses "a substantial danger to the public."

The attack occurred Monday at the Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City. The victim, a Muslim kiosk worker, sustained "multiple stab wounds all over his body and was bleeding profusely," according to a police affidavit. Bystanders intervened and pinned the suspect to the ground before law enforcement arrived at the scene.

intends to kill Muslims

— suspectStated to police regarding his motive for the stabbing.

Larsen was booked into the Salt Lake County jail and faces charges including attempted murder and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct. Police stated the suspect admitted to targeting the victim specifically because of his religion. According to Imam Shuaib Din of the Utah Islamic Center, who has been in contact with the victim's family, the suspect approached the victim, inquired about his religion, and then began stabbing him as the victim turned to retrieve a bottle of water.

a substantial danger to the public if released based on his violent actions ... ideologies and pre-planned mass casualty events.

— policeDescribing the suspect's threat level in court records.

The victim was hospitalized in critical condition and required surgeries. A GoFundMe page established for him reported he was stabbed 15 times. The attacker also received medical attention for injuries sustained while being subdued by bystanders before his arrest.

Muslim rights groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, have condemned the attack. U.S. rights advocates note a rise in Islamophobia over the past two decades, attributing it to factors including the September 11, 2001 attacks, anti-immigration policies, white supremacy, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The incident follows other violent attacks, such as the 2023 stabbing of a Muslim child in Illinois and a 2026 shooting at a San Diego mosque.

he had targeted the victim with intent to kill him because of his religion (Muslim)

— police booking affidavitDetailing the suspect's admission of motive.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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