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Indian man stabbed 15 times in suspected Utah hate crime
Police say the suspect admitted targeting the victim because of his religious beliefs.
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Malvika Choudhary - Thu, 16, Jul 2026
- 16:28 EDT
- 54
Syed Sohailuddin / Go Fund Me
An Indian national from Hyderabad remains in critical condition after he was allegedly stabbed more than 15 times while working at a shopping mall in Utah.
Syed Sohailuddin, 37, was attacked on the afternoon of July 13 while operating a kiosk inside Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, near Salt Lake City.
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Police arrested the suspect, identified as 48-year-old Peter Michael Larsen, on suspicion of attempted murder and carrying a prohibited dangerous weapon.
According to the West Valley City Police Department and court documents, Larsen approached Sohailuddin around 3 p.m., engaged him in a brief conversation, asked where he was from and whether he was a Muslim, and then requested a bottle of water.
As Sohailuddin turned to retrieve it, Larsen allegedly launched an unprovoked attack, stabbing him more than 15 times.
Investigators said Larsen later admitted he targeted Sohailuddin because of his religious beliefs and intended to kill him, prompting authorities to investigate the stabbing as a suspected hate-motivated attack.
Bystanders and mall employees intervened during the assault, wrestled the knife away from Larsen, and restrained him until officers arrived. Larsen was also hospitalized after sustaining injuries when witnesses struck him while attempting to stop the attack before he was taken into custody.
The Consulate General of India in San Francisco is deeply saddened by the tragic stabbing incident involving an Indian national in Utah. The Consulate is in close contact with the friends and family and stands ready to provide all possible consular assistance. We remain engaged…
— India in San Francisco (@CGISFO) July 15, 2026
Sohailuddin suffered severe injuries to his hands, heart and lungs and has undergone multiple surgeries, according to local media reports. He remains hospitalized in critical condition and is expected to face a lengthy recovery.
Court records show Larsen was on parole for a previous violent felony at the time of the attack and is being held without bail. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said prosecutors are reviewing the investigation before determining whether additional charges will be filed.
The victim's family in Hyderabad has appealed to India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to raise the matter with U.S. authorities and facilitate visas for close relatives to travel to the United States.
The attack has prompted an outpouring of support from the local community. A GoFundMe campaign launched to help cover Sohailuddin's medical expenses has raised more than $284,936. The fundraiser said Sohailuddin, a husband and father who does not have health insurance, faces mounting medical expenses for emergency treatment, multiple surgeries and long-term rehabilitation.
The Consulate General of India in San Francisco said it is in close contact with the victim's family and local authorities.
"The Consulate is in close contact with the friends and family and stands ready to provide all possible consular assistance. We remain engaged with local authorities and will continue to monitor the matter closely," the Consulate said in a post on X.
The attack has also drawn condemnation from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), whose National Executive Director Nihad Awad called on political and community leaders to reject anti-Muslim rhetoric following the stabbing.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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