Indian-Origin Muslim Man Critically Injured In Alleged Utah Hate Attack

New Delhi, July 15,2026 A shocking incident at a shopping mall in Utah has sparked concern over religiously motivated violence after an Indian-origin Muslim employee was allegedly targeted in a brutal knife attack. Investigators believe the assault was premeditated and driven by anti-Muslim hatred, raising fresh questions about public safety and the impact of hate crimes on communities. According to court documents, 48-year-old Peter Michael Larsen allegedly admitted that he intentionally targeted the victim after learning he was Muslim and told investigators he "intends to kill Muslims." Witness Luna Nunez told ABC Salt Lake City that Larsen first asked the victim about his identity. "He [Larsen] asked, 'where are you from', and he told him, 'I'm from India, my name's Sohail," Larsen said 'are you Muslim', and Sohail said yes, and he just began stabbing him." Utah Islamic Center Imam Shuaib Din told the Salt Lake Tribune that Larsen had also asked Sohail for a bottle of water before allegedly pulling out a knife and attacking him. A GoFundMe campaign launched by Nunez states that Sohail was stabbed 15 times, has undergone multiple surgeries, and remains in critical condition. Several bystanders intervened before police arrived, tackling Larsen and preventing the attack from continuing. Investigators said the suspect poses "a substantial danger to the public" because of his "violent actions... ideologies and pre-planned mass casualty events." Larsen was later treated for injuries sustained while being restrained before being taken into custody. Friends described Sohail as the sole earning member of his family. "I know he doesn't have insurance. He's the only man that is working in his family. He has two babies and a wife, and they are not working right now," Nunez told KSL. Condemning the attack, Sohail's manager Adnan Mohammed said, "This is just crazy. Hate crime, there's no space for hate." He added, "Always smiling, laughing, working very hard. You know, I promoted him as a manager to operate everything... When you kill a human, you're not just killing one guy. You're killing a whole family." In another interview with ABC Salt Lake City, Mohammed said, "I wish I was there to protect him. I would've given my life to protect him." Recalling the terrifying moments, Nunez said, "I was throwing anything I could, shoes, a chair, anything. [Larsen] was stabbing him so vicious. I was scared for his life. I was just scared. I thought he was going to die." The incident has drawn widespread attention, with authorities continuing their investigation while the victim remains hospitalized in critical condition.