Prosecutors in a Utah county filed two attempted aggravated murder charges on Friday against a man accused of stabbing a Muslim victim multiple times earlier this week due to the man's religion.

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

The filed information includes notices for a potential hate crime enhancement, the defendant's status as a habitual violent offender, and use of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, according to Gill's office.

An unprovoked attack on any community member is unacceptable, yet one allegedly driven by the victim's religion raises serious alarm, Gill stated.

The victim suffered multiple stab wounds across his body and was bleeding heavily, police reported earlier. A friend indicated the man endured 15 wounds and required surgery.

Police noted the defendant told them he intends to kill Muslims, targeted the victim because of his religion, and poses a substantial public danger if released given his violent actions, ideologies, and pre-planned mass casualty events.

A charging document filed Friday said Larsen wanted to act as a catalyst so others would rid the country of Muslims.

Suspect Held Down by Witnesses

The document quoted Larsen as saying that if he could move from one Muslim to another nearby, he would have killed as many as possible.

Larsen also said he selected the location because he knew Muslims would be present, per the charging document.

Authorities reported that bystanders pinned the defendant to the ground before officers arrived. He was booked into the Salt Lake County jail.

Rights advocates have said Islamophobia has risen in recent decades following the September 11 2001 attacks.

Recent deadly incidents include a 2023 stabbing of a six-year-old Muslim child in Illinois, whose killer received a 53-year sentence and later died in custody, along with a 2026 shooting at a San Diego mosque that killed five people including two teenage suspects.