A Utah mall kiosk employee was stabbed 15 times in what police say was an attack motivated by the victim’s Muslim faith.
Syed Sohail Uddin was working his shift at a kiosk inside a West Valley City mall on July 13 when a stranger approached him with the intent to kill him because of his religion, authorities said.
Police identified the suspect as 48-year-old Peter Michael Larsen, who was taken into custody after allegedly stabbing Uddin more than a dozen times. Larsen is facing charges of attempted murder and carrying a prohibited weapon.
The West Valley City Police Department said the attack happened shortly after 3 p.m., following a brief exchange between Larsen and Uddin before Larsen pulled out a knife.
Investigators said Larsen allegedly asked Uddin for his name and religion, then indicated that he wanted a bottle of water.
As Uddin turned to retrieve the water, Larsen allegedly lunged at him and began the stabbing attack.
Uddin was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition, suffering injuries to his hands, heart and lungs.
Court documents and videos shared on social media show several bystanders intervening, struggling with Larsen and forcing the knife from his hands before officers arrived.
During his shift at a Valley Fair mall kiosk on July 13, Syed Sohail Uddin was stabbed 15 times by a stranger who intended to kill him simply because of his religion
Uddin was left in critical condition and transported to a local hospital with wounds to his hands, heart and lungs
According to court documents and videos on social media, multiple bystanders grappled with Larsen and wrestled the knife out of his hands before law enforcement arrived at the scene
Larsen was also hospitalized after being punched in the head by the witnesses who subdued him.
After his arrest, Larsen reportedly told an officer that he specifically targeted Uddin ‘with intent to kill him because of his religion.’
‘We are investigating any possible motives and any possible relationship between the suspect and victim,’ police said.
Larsen was booked into the Salt Lake County jail and is being held without bail.
Imam Shuaib Din, who leads the Utah Islamic Center in West Jordan and has been in contact with the victim’s family, said the stabbing reflects growing concerns about anti-Muslim sentiment.
‘On the surface, it seems like it’s against one individual, but it’s not that one person who is a victim,’ Din said. ‘The whole entire community is a victim because now they all feel unsafe.’
Larsen has also been charged with violation of probation or parole according to the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
In 2022, he was convicted of assault on a police officer and faced a sentence of one to 15 years at Utah State Prison.
The attacker, identified as Peter Michael Larsen, 48, was arrested after stabbing the worker more than a dozen times. He now faces charges of attempted murder and carrying a prohibited weapon. (Pictured in previous mugshot)
Larsen reportedly told an officer that he specifically targeted Uddin ‘with intent to kill him because of his religion’
‘On the surface, it seems like it’s against one individual, but it’s not that one person who is a victim,’ Imam Shuaib Din, who leads the Utah Islamic Center in West Jordan said. ‘The whole entire community is a victim because now they all feel unsafe’
The ordeal came after Larsen was shot by Salt Lake City police for pointing a shotgun at officers and threatening firefighters that responded to a fire.
Court records indicate Larsen was also convicted in a separate case of aggravated assault that year, which saw him pull a gun on a man working security at a gentleman’s club after he was kicked out.
According to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, Larsen was granted parole in 2024 due to his minimal prior history and with the condition of Larsen completing cognitive behavioral therapy.
It was revoked after Larsen was reportedly rearrested after an incident with his ex-wife and her new boyfriend following a dispute about their son.
Records show January 2025 as Larsen’s most recent parole after he stated his mental health was in a good place and that he would ‘continue progressing and create a stable foundation.’
According to Uddin’s GoFundMe, he is a husband and father, and faces a long recovery with multiple surgeries and ongoing physical therapy expected.
‘As the main provider for his wife and children, Sohail’s absence has left his family in a vulnerable position, both emotionally and financially,’ the fundraiser states.
