Prosecutors in a Utah county filed two counts of attempted aggravated murder on Friday against a man accused of stabbing a Muslim man multiple times earlier this week in what authorities described as a religiously motivated attack.

The case has reignited discussions about the prevalence of hate crimes targeting religious minorities in the United States.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced that the defendant, Peter Michael Larsen, faces two first-degree felony counts of attempted aggravated murder for the Monday knife assault at Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City.

“In the ‌filed information document, ‌notices are given for a potential hate crime, ​the ‌defendant ⁠as ​a habitual ⁠violent offender, and use of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person,” Gill’s office said in a statement.

“An alleged unprovoked attack on anyone in our community is unacceptable, but an attack allegedly motivated because of the victim’s religion is alarming,” Gill added.

Police earlier this week said the victim had “multiple stab wounds all over his body and was bleeding profusely.” A friend stated he was stabbed 15 times and required surgeries.

Police had said ‌the defendant told them he “intends to ‌kill Muslims,” that “he had targeted the victim with ​intent to kill him because of his ‌religion,” and that he constituted “a substantial danger to the public if ‌released based on his violent actions ... ideologies and pre-planned mass casualty events.”

DEFENDANT PINNED TO THE GROUND BY BYSTANDERS

A charging document filed on Friday said Larsen stated he wanted “to be a catalyst so people would rid the country of Muslims.”

The document cited Larsen ‌as saying that “if he could go from one Muslim to another in close proximity, he would have killed as ⁠many as ⁠possible.”

Larsen also stated he chose that location because he knew there were Muslims there, according to the charging document.

Authorities said the defendant was pinned to the ground by bystanders before officers arrived on the scene. He was booked into the Salt Lake County jail.

US rights advocates have said Islamophobia has risen in recent decades following the September 11, 2001, attacks, and more recently because of anti-immigration policies, white supremacy and the fallout of Israel’s war in Gaza.

Deadly violent attacks in recent years include a 2023 stabbing of a 6-year-old Muslim child in Illinois whose killer was sentenced ​to 53 years in prison ​and died in custody, and a 2026 shooting at a San Diego mosque that left five dead, including two teenage suspects. 

The charging documents indicate Larsen intended to kill multiple Muslims and described himself as wanting to be a catalyst for others to rid the country of Muslims. The filing also included notices for a potential hate crime and habitual offender status. Prosecutors argue that Larsen poses a substantial danger to the public, citing his violent ideologies and plans for mass casualty events.