An Indian Muslim employee was allegedly attacked with a knife after being asked about her religion inside a mall in Utah, USA. A case of attempt to murder has been registered against the accused.
There was chaos in a shopping mall in the US state of Utah when an employee working at a kiosk was attacked allegedly because of his religion. According to police and court documents, the accused in this case himself admitted that he targeted the victim because he was a Muslim.
Attacked after asking about religion
According to court documents, 48-year-old Peter Michael Larson told investigators that he deliberately chose his victim because he was Muslim. According to police, he allegedly said he “wanted to kill Muslims.”
When is the matter?
The incident took place on Monday, July 13 at Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City. Police say that the accused first approached the employee, talked to him and asked about his religion. After this he was attacked.
The victim was stabbed with a knife as soon as ‘Muslim’ came out of his mouth.
Luna Nunez, who works at a nearby jewelry shop, told local media ABC Salt Lake City that the suspect first asked the victim where he was from. According to him, the victim replied, “I am from India, my name is Sohail.” After this the accused asked whether he was a Muslim. When Sohail said ‘yes’, the accused attacked him with a knife.
Attacked on the pretext of asking for water
Imam Shuaib Deen of Utah Islamic Center told local media that the accused had first asked Sohail for a water bottle. As Sohail turned to get water, the accused allegedly took out a knife and attacked him. According to the GoFundMe campaign started by Luna Nunez, Sohail was attacked with a knife about 15 times one after the other. He has undergone several surgeries and his condition still remains critical.
The people present at the spot caught the accused
Before the police arrived, many people present in the mall together overpowered the accused and held him down, due to which the attack could not proceed further. After this the police arrested the accused. Officials have registered a case against him under several serious sections including Attempt to Murder and possession of dangerous weapons. He is currently being held in the Salt Lake County Jail.
Police said big danger
Investigating officers say that the accused can pose a serious threat to the common people. According to him, initial investigation has revealed indications related to his violent thinking and intention to cause harm to people on a large scale. Before being taken into custody, he was also treated for the injuries he sustained while being controlled by the people.
Sohail is the only one to take responsibility of the family.
Sohail’s friends and colleagues described him as a hardworking and family-oriented person. Luna Nunez told local media that Sohail does not have health insurance. He is the only earning member of his family. He is survived by his wife and two children. Sohail’s manager Adnan Mohammed strongly condemned the attack. He said that this is a hate crime and there should be no place for such thinking in the society.
Concern over anti-Muslim incidents in America
In the past few years, many civil rights organizations have expressed concern about the increase in hate-motivated incidents against Muslims in America. These organizations say that many factors such as anti-immigration rhetoric, white supremacist activities and tensions related to the Gaza war have given rise to such cases. The investigation into this matter is ongoing and the police are probing all aspects.