Utah Man Charged With Attempted Murder in Alleged Anti-Muslim Stabbing Attack

A Utah man has been charged with two counts of attempted aggravated murder after authorities alleged he carried out a knife attack targeting a Muslim man because of his religion at a shopping mall earlier this week.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced on Friday that Peter Michael Larsen faces two first-degree felony counts of attempted aggravated murder in connection with the incident, which took place on Monday at Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City.

According to the district attorney’s office, prosecutors have also filed notices seeking hate crime enhancements, identifying Larsen as a potential habitual violent offender and citing the alleged use of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person.

Gill described the case as deeply concerning because investigators believe the victim was selected based on his faith.

“An alleged unprovoked attack on anyone in our community is unacceptable, but an attack allegedly motivated because of the victim’s religion is alarming,” Gill said in a statement.

Police said officers responding to the scene found the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds across his body and losing a significant amount of blood. A friend of the victim told local media he had been stabbed 15 times and required multiple surgeries. His current condition has not been disclosed by officials.

Investigators said Larsen made several statements following his arrest that suggested the attack was planned and motivated by religious hatred. Police previously alleged that he admitted intending to kill Muslims and said he had specifically targeted the victim because of his religion.

Court documents filed on Friday provided additional details of those alleged statements. Prosecutors said Larsen told investigators he wanted “to be a catalyst so people would rid the country of Muslims.” The filing also alleges he said that if more Muslim individuals had been nearby, he would have attempted to kill as many as possible.

Authorities said Larsen intentionally chose the shopping mall because he believed Muslims would be present there.

The attack was brought to an end after bystanders intervened, pinning Larsen to the ground until police officers arrived. He was later taken into custody and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail.

The case comes amid continuing concerns over anti-Muslim hate crimes in the United States. Civil rights organizations have reported rising levels of Islamophobia over the past two decades, pointing to factors including the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, anti-immigration rhetoric, white supremacist activity and tensions linked to the war in Gaza.

Recent years have seen several deadly attacks targeting Muslims, including the fatal stabbing of a six-year-old Muslim boy in Illinois in 2023 and a shooting at a San Diego mosque earlier this year that left five people dead. Authorities have not announced when Larsen is expected to make his next court appearance.