Prosecutors file attempted aggravated murder charges in stabbing of Muslim man in Utah
Prosecutors say Peter Michael Larsen told police he targeted the worker because he was Muslim and intended to kill more people.
- On Friday, Salt Lake County prosecutors charged Peter Michael Larsen with two counts of attempted aggravated murder after he allegedly stabbed Muslim mall worker Syed Sohail Uddin multiple times at Valley Fair Mall on Monday.
- Larsen, who was on parole following a 2022 incident, told police he targeted the victim because of his religion, stating he wanted to be a "catalyst" to rid the country of Muslims.
- Bystanders intervened to stop the stabbing after Larsen attacked the victim with a knife, and he also cut a second man who attempted to assist the victim.
- Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill filed notices for potential hate crime enhancements, noting the attack is "alarming," while over $300,000 has been raised to support the hospitalized victim.
- Rights advocates note rising Islamophobia in recent years, though Gill emphasized community resilience, stating the incident "does not define who we are as a community and who we are as a nation.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Prosecutors file attempted aggravated murder charges in stabbing of Muslim man in Utah
Prosecutors in a Utah county announced the filing of two attempted aggravated murder charges on Friday against a man who police said had stabbed a Muslim man multiple times earlier this week because of the victim's religion.
Salt Lake County DA's Office files attempted murder charges against man arrested after WVC mall stabbing
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 17, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has formally charged Peter Michael Larsen with two counts of attempted murder after Larsen, 48, allegedly stabbed one man 15 or more times, and cut a second man who was trying to defend the victim, allegedly stating that he would be next. The charges, both classified as hate crimes due to the Larsen’s statement that he committed the acts due to…
Mall stabbing suspect charged with attempted murder, with hate crime enhancement
Multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated attempted murder, were filed Friday against the man accused of stabbing a West Valley City mall employee over his religion earlier this week.
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