After mall stabbing, Utah faith leaders warn against anti-Muslim rhetoric

(RNS) — Two days after a man allegedly stabbed a Muslim worker in a Utah mall at least 15 times, religious groups are warning of the effects of escalating anti-Muslim rhetoric.

“The hate crime is so abhorrent because it does not only affect the victim. It affects the whole Muslim community,” said Imam Shuaib Din, who leads the Utah Islamic Center in West Jordan, Utah.

The 48-year-old suspect told police he targeted the victim because of his religion and said he “intends to kill Muslims,” according to a probable cause statement.

According to police records, Peter Michael Larsen  approached Syed Sohail Uddin, a worker at a kiosk at the Valley Fair Mall near Salt Lake City, and asked him where he was from and what his religion was. Soon after, Larsen pulled out a knife and stabbed Uddin repeatedly. Court records and videos of the incident show bystanders punching and pinning down the suspect to get the knife from him.

Police said he posed a threat if released because of “his violent actions … ideologies and pre-planned mass casualty events. Larsen was held without bail at the Salt Lake County jail and charged with attempted ⁠murder and ⁠prohibited dangerous weapon conduct,…