Key facts
- A Muslim mall worker, Syed Sohail Uddin, was stabbed more than 15 times in West Valley City, Utah.
- The suspect, Peter Michael Larsen, admitted to targeting Uddin due to his religion and stated an intent to kill Muslims.
- Larsen was on parole for a previous violent felony at the time of the attack.
- Bystanders intervened to disarm and restrain Larsen until police arrived.
- Uddin is in critical condition and faces a long recovery period.
A Muslim man working at a kiosk in Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, Utah, was repeatedly stabbed on Monday afternoon in what authorities are investigating as an Islamophobic hate crime. Syed Sohail Uddin, 37, sustained more than 15 stab wounds. The suspect, 48-year-old Peter Michael Larsen, reportedly told investigators he targeted Uddin because he was Muslim and expressed an intent to kill Muslims, also referencing "pre-planned mass casualty events."
Witnesses and other mall employees intervened, wrestling the knife away from Larsen and restraining him until police arrived. Uddin survived the attack but remains in critical condition and faces a lengthy recovery. His manager described him as a hardworking father of two.
Larsen was on parole for a previous violent felony at the time of the stabbing and is being held without bail. Prosecutors are determining the formal charges. The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the attack, linking it to a broader rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric and incidents across the U.S., citing 8,683 bias complaints in 2025. Prominent Muslim figures have drawn attention to the attack and the perceived normalization of anti-Muslim hatred.