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Washington. A case of an Indian citizen being attacked with a knife allegedly because of his religion has come to light in the US state of Utah. According to media reports, the accused had asked the victim about his religion before attacking him in a shopping mall located near Salt Lake City. Police have arrested the accused and investigation into the case is ongoing.

Indian citizen working in mall attacked

According to the information, Indian citizen Syed Sohailuddin, who worked at Valley City Mall in West Valley City, Utah, was allegedly attacked by a person named Peter Michael Larson on Monday afternoon. It is alleged that the accused stabbed Sohailuddin about 15 times with a knife. Before the attack, it has come to light that the accused asked the victim questions like his name, where he is from and whether he is a Muslim.

Accused arrested on several charges including attempt to murder

According to media reports, police have arrested Peter Michael Larsen on suspicion of attempted murder and possession of a prohibited dangerous weapon. The accused reportedly told police that he targeted Sohailuddin because of his religion, documents filed in the court said. According to the police, the accused also said that he considered himself a change-maker and his intention was to harm Muslims. Officials told the court that the accused is being considered a threat to society in view of his violent tendencies and radical ideology.

Treatment of the victim continues in the hospital.

After the attack, Syed Sohailuddin was taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery. At the same time, accused Larsen was also injured because some people beat him while trying to stop the attack. Luna Nunez, who worked with the victim, said that Sohailuddin informed her about the incident in the hospital. According to eyewitnesses, there was chaos in the mall at the time of the incident and people started running away from the spot due to fear.

Indian Embassy expressed grief

The Consulate General of India in San Francisco expressed grief over the incident and said it was in touch with the family and friends of the victim. The embassy has said that it will maintain coordination with the local administration and provide all possible assistance.

Concern about anti-Muslim violence

Organizations working for Muslim rights have condemned this incident and appealed to public representatives to take a strict stance against anti-Muslim rhetoric. Officials say that detailed comments cannot be made on the matter until the investigation is completed.

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