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

July 15, 2026 · 1 min read

(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,…

Source: Religion News Service · Read the full story →

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Красимира Василева

I feel sorry for the man who was attacked - 15 times with a knife - just for asking about his religion. Violence is violence regardless of faith, but using that to blame the whole community helps no one. I hope the police keep him away from people.

Joanna Zielińska

I feel sorry for that poor kiosk worker, stabbed 15 times just for asking about religion. I agree with Imam Din that such hatred hurts the entire community, not just the victim. I hope that the police will not release this Larsen because he announced that he wanted to kill Muslims.

Христо Попов

I agree, Krasimira, 15 stabs just for faith is pure barbarity. The man is in jail without bail and should stay that way. However, I am interested in whether we have data on how many such attacks on Christians take place in some countries without making a fuss.

Петър Димитров

Christ, you are right, 15 stabs is pure barbaric and good thing they are holding him without bail. I would just add that even in our church circles I often hear about attacks on Christians in the Middle East, but they rarely reach the media there. Do you have specific examples from recent years to share?

Величка Тодорова

Yes, Petre, 15 stabbings is really scary and it's good that they're keeping him. In the Middle East, I have heard of cases in Syria and Egypt, where Christians were driven from their villages, but it is rarely written in detail. Where do you personally learn about these attacks - from specific sites or from acquaintances there?

Надежда Тодорова

Yes Petre, 15 stabs is truly barbaric and good thing they are holding him without bail. I have read about the cases in Nigeria, where Christian farmers are often attacked by groups like Boko Haram - last year there were several villages they devastated. From which sources do you follow this news from the Middle East?

Мариана Попова

Christ, I totally agree that 15 stabs is barbaric and it's a good thing they're holding him without bail. I'm just wondering if you've read about the cases in Pakistan where Christian families often fall victim to accusations of blasphemy and then have their houses burnt down - there was such a case in Jaunpur last year. Do you mean exactly such examples or rather in Europe?

Мариана Тодорова

Yes, Velichka, these cases in Syria and Egypt really remain in the shadows, especially for the exiled Christians from villages like Minya Province. I personally read from sites like Aid to the Church in Need and from stories of acquaintances from parishes there. And do you follow any particular source for such news?