A 48-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing an Indian Muslim worker multiple times inside a shopping mall in the US state of Utah. Investigators say the suspect admitted he deliberately targeted the victim because of his religion.

The incident took place on Monday at Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, where the victim was working at a kiosk. According to court documents, the accused, identified as Peter Michael Larsen, allegedly told investigators that he “intends to kill Muslims.”

Suspect allegedly asked victim about his religion before attack

Police said Larsen approached the kiosk and began speaking with the worker, who was later identified by friends as Sohail. According to witnesses, the suspect first asked where he was from.

A nearby jewellery store employee, Luna Nunez, said Sohail replied that he was from India. Larsen then allegedly asked whether he was Muslim. After Sohail answered yes, the suspect reportedly launched the knife attack.

According to Imam Shuaib Din of the Utah Islamic Center, Larsen had also asked Sohail for a bottle of water. As the victim turned to get it, the suspect allegedly pulled out a knife and began stabbing him.

Victim stabbed 15 times, remains in critical condition

A GoFundMe campaign created by Nunez states that Sohail suffered 15 stab wounds during the attack. He has since undergone multiple surgeries and remains in critical condition.

Friends described Sohail as the sole earning member of his family, supporting his wife and two young children. Nunez said he does not have health insurance, adding that his family currently has no other source of income.

Bystanders overpowered suspect before police arrived

Witnesses at the mall intervened during the attack, tackling Larsen and restraining him until officers reached the scene. Police later treated the suspect for injuries sustained while he was being held down before taking him into custody.

Authorities have charged Larsen with attempted murder and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct. He is currently being held at the Salt Lake County jail.

Investigators said the accused poses “a substantial danger to the public,” citing his alleged violent actions, extremist views and concerns over possible pre-planned mass casualty intentions.

Friends condemn attack as hate crime

Sohail’s manager, Adnan Mohammed, condemned the assault, calling it a hate crime and saying there is “no space for hate.” He described Sohail as a hardworking employee who was always smiling and had recently been promoted to manage operations.

Mohammed also expressed regret that he was not present during the attack, saying he wished he could have protected Sohail.

Recalling the incident, Nunez said she threw nearby objects, including shoes and a chair, in an attempt to stop the attacker, adding that she feared Sohail would not survive.

She also said other mall employees later told her the suspect had been walking around the shopping centre asking people about their religion before the stabbing.

Civil rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns over an increase in anti-Muslim incidents in the United States, citing factors such as anti-immigration rhetoric, white supremacist activity and tensions linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested Lucknow University law students Prabal Pratap Singh and Chandrabhan for disrupting proceedings inside the Supreme Court. The incident took place on July 10 in Courtroom No. 13 during a hearing before the bench of Justice K.V. Viswanathan and Justice Alok Aradhe.

Police said Prabal Pratap Singh, a third-year LLB student from Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, interrupted the court proceedings by shouting slogans, using abusive language against Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, throwing court papers into the air, and creating chaos inside the courtroom. His associate, Chandrabhan, allegedly supported the disruption.

Security personnel in the Supreme Court overpowered the two and removed them from the courtroom, allowing the hearing to resume. The Court had magnanimously let them go without punishing them, CJI Surya Kant had also dismissed any action against the two law students saying they were like children.

Police said the accused had approached the Supreme Court in connection with a legal dispute after challenging an order of the Allahabad High Court. Investigators believe the disruption was linked to dissatisfaction with the progress of the case, although the exact motive is still being examined.

Following the incident, the Tilak Marg Police Station registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges of obstructing public servants from performing their duties, disturbing judicial proceedings, and acting with common intention. After their arrest, both accused were produced before a Delhi court, which remanded them to two days of police custody for questioning.

The incident has raised fresh concerns over security inside the country’s highest court. Although the Supreme Court has strict entry procedures and multiple security checks, the disruption has prompted authorities to review existing security arrangements to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Police are now analyzing CCTV footage, questioning the accused, and investigating whether anyone else was involved or if the act was planned in advance. Further legal action will depend on the findings of the investigation.

The West Bengal Congress has invited Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee to its July 21 programme in Kolkata, saying she should publicly acknowledge that quitting the Congress nearly three decades ago was a political mistake.

The invitation came from West Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar, who addressed reporters after reviewing preparations for the party’s ‘Martyrs’ Day’ programme at Shahid Minar.

Congress asks Mamata to acknowledge 1993 movement

Sarkar said Banerjee should recognise the historical importance of the July 21, 1993 movement instead of trying to alter its legacy.

According to him, the movement was organised under the banner of the Youth Congress, making it an integral part of the Congress’ political history.

He said political leaders who respect their own political journey earn greater public respect and urged Banerjee to pay tribute to the martyrs at the Congress programme.

‘Leaving Congress was a mistake’

Sarkar said Banerjee’s participation in the event would carry greater significance if she publicly admitted that leaving the Congress was the wrong political decision.

He described such a move as an act of political atonement and said the Congress stage remains open for anyone wishing to pay homage to those who died during the July 21, 1993 movement.

July 21 remains politically significant in West Bengal

The July 21, 1993 protest, led by Mamata Banerjee during her time in the Youth Congress, ended in police firing in which 13 people allegedly lost their lives.

After leaving the Congress in December 1997 to form the Trinamool Congress, Banerjee continued observing July 21 every year through large public rallies that gradually became a major display of the party’s organisational strength. The Congress, meanwhile, continued marking the day with comparatively smaller programmes.

Multiple events planned this year

The political landscape has changed following the TMC’s loss of power in the West Bengal Assembly elections, with the party also facing internal rebellion.

A rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has announced a separate observance near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Esplanade. Meanwhile, police have denied permission to another group loyal to the former chief minister to hold its programme at its traditional venue in front of Victoria House. The matter is currently pending before the court.