Federal prosecutors announced a hate crime indictment against Peter Larsen, 48, of Orem, Utah, for allegedly stabbing a Muslim man multiple times at the Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City in July. The federal grand jury charged Larsen with willfully causing bodily injury to a victim because of his actual or perceived religion.
Larsen, who has been in state custody since his July 13 arrest, could not be reached for comment. According to the Justice Department, Larsen purchased a knife inside the mall and proceeded to ask employees if they were Muslim. When the victim identified himself as Muslim, Larsen began stabbing him.
The victim sustained multiple stab wounds, including to the neck, and required surgery. An investigation determined that Larsen had gone to the mall with the intent to attack Muslims, and he told police he intended to kill Muslims, federal prosecutors said.
The attack was halted when bystanders intervened and subdued Larsen until police arrived. The incident has fueled concerns among Muslim Americans regarding rising Islamophobia, which rights advocates attribute to factors including anti-immigration policies, white supremacy, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.