Utah mall worker stabbed by stranger 15 times for being Muslim, cops say

Published: 17:12, 15 July 2026 | Updated: 17:29, 15 July 2026 A kiosk worker at a Utah mall suffered a total of 15 knife wounds after being attacked over his religion, police said. During his shift at a West Valley City mall kiosk on July 13, Syed Sohail Uddin was approached by a stranger who intended to kill him simply because he is Muslim, authorities said. The attacker, identified as Peter Michael Larsen, 48, was arrested after stabbing the worker more than a dozen times. He now faces charges of attempted murder and carrying a prohibited weapon. The West Valley City Police Department said Larsen had a brief interaction with Uddin before brandishing his knife and carrying out the attack shortly after 3pm. In the moments leading up to the stabbing, Larsen allegedly asked Uddin's name, religion, and indicated that he wanted a bottle of water. Larsen then pounced at Uddin just as he had turned around to grab the water. The staffer was left in critical condition and transported to a local hospital with wounds to his hands, heart and lungs. According to court documents and videos on social media, multiple bystanders grappled with Larsen and wrestled the knife out of his hands before law enforcement arrived at the scene. During his shift at a Valley Fair mall kiosk on July 13, Syed Sohail Uddin was stabbed 15 times by a stranger who intended to kill him simply because of his religion According to court documents and videos on social media, multiple bystanders grappled with Larsen and wrestled the knife out of his hands before law enforcement arrived at the scene Larsen was also hospitalized after being punched in the head by the witnesses who subdued him. After his arrest, Larsen reportedly told an officer that he specifically targeted Uddin 'with intent to kill him because of his religion.' 'We are investigating any possible motives and any possible relationship between the suspect and victim,' police said. Larsen was booked into the Salt Lake County jail and is being held without bail. Imam Shuaib Din, who leads the Utah Islamic Center in West Jordan and has been in contact with the victim’s family, said the stabbing reflects growing concerns about anti-Muslim sentiment. 'On the surface, it seems like it’s against one individual, but it’s not that one person who is a victim,' Din said. 'The whole entire community is a victim because now they all feel unsafe.' Larsen has also been charged with violation of probation or parole according to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office. In 2022, he was convicted of assault on a police officer and faced a sentence of one to 15 years at Utah State Prison. The ordeal came after Larsen was shot by Salt Lake City police for pointing a shotgun at officers and threatening firefighters that responded to a fire. Court records indicate Larsen was also convicted in a separate case of aggravated assault that year, which saw him pull a gun on a man working security at a gentleman's club after he was kicked out. According to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, Larsen was granted parole in 2024 due to his minimal prior history and with the condition of Larsen completing cognitive behavioral therapy. It was revoked after Larsen was reportedly rearrested after an incident with his ex-wife and her new boyfriend following a dispute about their son. Records show January 2025 as Larsen's most recent parole after he stated his mental health was in a good place and that he would 'continue progressing and create a stable foundation.' According to Uddin's GoFundMe, he is a husband and father, and faces a long recovery with multiple surgeries and ongoing physical therapy expected. 'As the main provider for his wife and children, Sohail’s absence has left his family in a vulnerable position, both emotionally and financially,' the fundraiser states.