'Are you Muslim': Indian national stabbed 15 times inside US mall after being asked about religion
PTC News Desk: An Indian national is currently in a critical condition after being stabbed 15 times inside a shopping mall in Utah by a suspect who asked where he was from and whether he was Muslim, according to the reports.
The police said that the attacker later revealed that he targeted the victim because of his religion and declared that he "intends to kill Muslims".
The suspect has been identified as 48-year-old Peter Michael Larsen. He was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on charges including attempted murder and possession of a prohibited dangerous weapon.
The attack happened on Monday at Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, where the victim, identified by friends as Sohail, was working at a kiosk. Police said it was a targeted attack and described Larsen as a serious threat to public safety.
According to eyewitnesses, the attacker first asked Sohail where he was from before questioning his religion.
"He said (Larsen) asked, 'where are you from', and he told him, 'I'm from India, my name's Sohail.' Larsen asked 'are you Muslim', and Sohail said yes, and he just began stabbing him," Luna Nunez, who works at a nearby jewellery store, told ABC Salt Lake City.
According to court records released on Tuesday, Larsen admitted that he targeted Sohail because he was Muslim. Police said the suspect told investigators he "intends to kill Muslims" and warned that he poses a major risk to the public because of his violent actions, extremist beliefs and plans for mass-casualty attacks.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Imam Shuaib Din, head of the Utah Islamic Center, said Larsen first walked up to the kiosk, asked Sohail his name, questioned him about his religion and requested a bottle of water.
When Sohail turned to get the water, Larsen allegedly pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed him.
- With inputs from agencies
