The Consulate General of India in San Francisco expressed grief over the stabbing of an Indianorigin man in Utah

The Consulate General of India in San Francisco on Wednesday expressed grief over the stabbing of an Indian citizen in Utah, saying it was in close contact with the victim’s family and was providing all possible consular assistance.

“The Consulate General of India in San Francisco is deeply saddened by the tragic stabbing of an Indian national in Utah. The consulate is in close contact with friends and family and stands ready to provide all possible consular assistance. We remain in contact with local authorities and will continue to monitor the matter closely,” the consulate wrote on X.

According to court documents cited by The New York Times, the victim, identified as Syed Sohail Uddin, a Muslim worker of Indian origin, was hospitalized with multiple stab wounds after the attack at Valley Fair Mall in Utah on Monday evening (local time), ANI reported.

The suspect, identified as Peter Micheal Larsen, allegedly questioned the victim about her identity before attacking her. Court records say Larsen admitted he tried to kill the victim because of his Islamic faith.

The NYT reported that Larsen made the statement after being booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on Monday night on suspicion of attempted murder, openly claiming that he sees himself as the “catalyst” who intends to kill all Muslims.

Co-worker Luna Nunez, who said Larsen asked the victim “where he’s from, what his name is and if he’s Muslim.”

An eyewitness told the NYT that once Larsen confirmed the victim’s belief, he pulled out a knife and stabbed him repeatedly, stopping only when bystanders intervened and seized the weapon. Mall worker Salvador Mendez described the arrest as “chilling,” saying Larsen was covered in blood and “looking at us with hatred.”

Local community gripped by fear

Uddin is currently fighting for his life in hospital. His employer and family friend, Adnan Mohammed, told the NYT that it was a miracle he survived given the extent of his injuries. He said the attack made him fear for the safety of his children and was traumatized by the amount of blood at the scene.

The local community is also said to have been gripped by fear as a result of the attack, another case of growing xenophobic violence in the country.