Muslim Man Stabbed Repeatedly in Utah Mall, Attacker Cites Religion as Motive

A man has been arrested after repeatedly stabbing a Muslim man at a shopping centre in Utah, United States, and admitting he deliberately chose the victim because of his religion. Court documents released by police on Tuesday local time stated the perpetrator even confessed to having the intention to kill Muslims. Authorities consider the man a serious threat to the community due to his violent ideology and suspected plans for an attack that could have caused mass casualties. The incident occurred at the Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City on Monday. Upon arrival, police found the male victim suffering from multiple stab wounds across his body and losing a significant amount of blood. The victim was saved after several bystanders at the scene subdued the attacker before police arrived. The perpetrator has been identified as Peter Michael Larsen, 48. According to Salt Lake County jail records, he is being held on suspicion of attempted murder and possession and use of a prohibited dangerous weapon. The victim is a Muslim man who worked at a kiosk in the shopping centre. In the detention documents, police stated Larsen openly admitted the motive for his attack. “He targeted the victim with the intent to kill him because of his (Muslim) religion,” the police detention affidavit stated. Police also revealed that during questioning, Larsen said he “intended to kill Muslims.” Authorities assessed that the perpetrator “poses a significant threat to the community if released, based on his violent actions, his ideology, and a previously prepared plan for a mass casualty event.” According to a report by the Salt Lake Tribune quoting Imam Shuaib Din, leader of the Utah Islamic Center who communicated with the victim’s family, the perpetrator approached the victim calmly before launching the attack. The perpetrator first asked the victim’s name, then inquired about his religion. Afterwards, the perpetrator pretended to ask for a bottle of water. When the victim turned around to get the water, the perpetrator immediately launched the attack, stabbing the victim repeatedly. The victim was rushed to hospital in a critical condition. A friend of the victim created a fundraising page on GoFundMe, stating the victim suffered 15 stab wounds and required several surgeries. Meanwhile, the perpetrator also received hospital treatment for injuries sustained when he was subdued by bystanders before being formally detained at the Salt Lake County Jail. Civil rights groups in the US have noted that anti-Muslim sentiment has been rising for more than two decades since the 11 September 2001 attacks. In recent years, the phenomenon has also been linked to anti-immigration policies, the rise of white supremacy, and the impact of the war in Gaza. Several deadly attacks against the Muslim community have occurred in recent years. In 2023, a six-year-old Muslim boy in Illinois was stabbed to death. The perpetrator was later sentenced to 53 years in prison before dying while in custody. In 2026, a shooting at a mosque in San Diego killed five people, including two teenagers who were suspects in the incident.