Man arrested in Utah for stabbing Muslim multiple times over religion

A man has been arrested in Utah after stabbing a Muslim man multiple times and telling police he targeted the victim because of his religion, according to court records released Tuesday.

The incident occurred Monday at the Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, Utah. Police stated the suspect said he “intends to kill Muslims” and poses a substantial danger to the public. Bystanders subdued the suspect before officers arrived.

The suspect, Peter Michael Larsen, 48, was booked into the Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of attempted murder and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct, jail records showed. The victim was a male Muslim kiosk worker.

According to police affidavit, the suspect “had targeted the victim with intent to kill him because of his religion [Muslim].”

The Salt Lake Tribune reported, citing Imam Shuaib Din of the Utah Islamic Center, who was in contact with the victim’s family, that the suspect approached the victim, asked his name, inquired about his religion, and requested a bottle of water. As the victim turned to get the water, the attacker began stabbing him.

The victim was hospitalized in critical condition. A friend set up a GoFundMe page stating the man was stabbed 15 times and requires multiple surgeries. The attacker was also hospitalized for injuries sustained while being subdued by bystanders before being jailed.

Muslim rights groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, condemned the attack. Rights advocates note rising Islamophobia over the past two decades following the September 11, 2001 attacks, and more recently due to anti-immigration policies, white supremacy, and fallout from Israel’s war in Gaza. Notable previous attacks include the 2023 stabbing of a six-year-old Muslim child in Illinois and a 2026 shooting at a San Diego mosque that left five dead.