Muslim kiosk worker critically injured in Utah mall stabbing, suspect held

WEST VALLEY CITY: A 48-year-old man was arrested in Utah after police said he stabbed a Muslim kiosk worker multiple times inside Valley Fair Mall and told investigators he had chosen the victim because of his religion.

The suspect, Peter Michael Larsen, was booked into the Salt Lake County jail in connection with an attempted murder investigation and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct. Police said the victim suffered multiple stab wounds across his body and was bleeding heavily when officers responded.

Authorities said bystanders pinned the suspect to the ground before police arrived at the scene. The victim was taken to hospital and was reported to be in critical condition.

In the police booking affidavit, investigators said the suspect told them, "he had targeted the victim with intent to kill him because of his religion (Muslim)."

Police also said the suspect told them, "intends to kill Muslims."

Another statement in court records said he posed

a substantial danger to the public if released based on his violent actions, ideologies and pre-planned mass casualty events.

Account of the attack

The Salt Lake Imam Shuaib Din of the Utah Islamic Centre said the attacker approached the kiosk worker, asked his name, asked about his religion and said he wanted a bottle of water. Din, who had been in contact with the victim's family, said the man began stabbing the worker when he turned to get the water.

A GoFundMe page created by a friend said the victim was stabbed 15 times and required surgeries. The suspect was also hospitalised after sustaining injuries when bystanders subdued him, before he was later booked into jail.

Rights groups condemn incident

Muslim advocacy organisations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, denounced the attack. Rights advocates in the United States have pointed to a rise in Islamophobia over the past two decades after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and more recently in connection with anti-immigration policies, white supremacy and the fallout from Israel's war in Gaza.

Previous deadly attacks in recent years include the 2023 stabbing of a six-year-old Muslim child in Illinois, whose killer was sentenced to 53 years in prison and later died in custody, and a 2026 shooting at a San Diego mosque that killed five people, including two teenage suspects.