A kiosk worker at a shopping mall in West Valley City, Utah, was stabbed repeatedly on Monday after being asked whether he was Muslim, according to local police and court documents. The suspect, Peter Michael Larsen, 48, was arrested at the scene and later told investigators he had targeted the victim because of his religion and that he “intends to kill Muslims,” a police booking affidavit states. The victim, identified by friends and colleagues as Sohail, an Indian national, remains in critical condition.

Police described finding the man with “multiple stab wounds all over his body” and bleeding profusely. Bystanders intervened, tackling and restraining Larsen until officers arrived. A fundraising page created by a friend says the victim was stabbed 15 times and has undergone several surgeries; authorities have not officially confirmed the number of wounds. Larsen has been booked on suspicion of attempted murder and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct. The affidavit notes he poses “a substantial danger to the public” because of his violent actions, ideologies, and references to pre-planned mass casualty events.

US media reports, citing court records, indicate Larsen had a prior conviction stemming from a 2022 incident in which he set his yard on fire and threatened firefighters, leading to a prison sentence; he was released in January 2025. Imam Shuaib Din of the Utah Islamic Center, who has been in contact with the victim’s family, said the suspect approached the kiosk, asked the victim’s name and religion, and requested a bottle of water before attacking as the victim turned away. Indian media outlets have highlighted that the victim is the sole breadwinner for his wife and two young children.

The attack has drawn condemnation from Muslim advocacy groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Civil rights organisations in the United States have noted a pattern of rising anti-Muslim incidents in recent years, which they link to anti-immigration rhetoric, white supremacist activity, and tensions over the war in Gaza. The investigation remains active, and prosecutors are examining whether to file hate crime charges. Larsen is being held at the Salt Lake County jail.