Utah Suspect Charged With Hate Crime In Alleged Anti-Islamic Stabbing

The stabbing took place in July at the Valley Fair Mall in Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY, UT, UNITED STATES, August 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Sayed Uddin and Wajid Mohammed were injured at Valley Fair Mall on July 13, 2026, when they were attacked by Peter Michael Larsen, who has been arrested and charged with attempted murder. Larsen allegedly told police he targeted Sayed because he was Muslim and that he intended to “kill as many Muslims at the mall as possible as an inspiration to others.” Sayed was stabbed 22 times, and Wajid was also injured while attempting to intervene in the attack.

Larsen has been charged in Utah Third District Court, Case No. 261908772, with two counts of attempted aggravated murder and one count of prohibited dangerous weapon conduct, each carrying a hate crime enhancement. He is being held without bail. On August 12, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Larsen on a separate charge of committing a hate crime causing bodily injury based on religion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 249(a)(2)(A)(ii)(II) and (B) (Case No. 2:26-cr-00307-DS, D. Utah). If convicted on the federal charge, Larsen faces up to life in prison. State and federal charging documents can be accessed here.

Sayed and Wajid have engaged Jim McConkie and Brian C. Stewart of the law firm Parker & McConkie to represent them in this matter. Questions concerning this matter can be directed to Jim McConkie at (801) 916-1830.

“We appreciate the quick response by Sim Gill and the County Attorney's Office, as well as the United States Attorney's Office, in moving to prosecute this matter on behalf of our clients,” said McConkie. “If we tolerate hate crimes in our community, we are quietly agreeing that safety is conditional — granted to some and withheld from others. Hate crimes are intended to terrorize everyone who shares a particular identity and have absolutely no place in our community.”

“We are horrified by the violence and hatred we experienced, but we bear no ill will,” said Sayed Uddin. “We simply hope for justice, and for greater understanding and protections that make our communities safer in the future.”

For all media inquiries, please contact Michael Knauff, Publicist at Otter PR, via email at michael.knauff@otterpr.com.

Michael Knauff
Otter PR
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