Hyderabad man stabbed 15+ times in Utah mall in alleged hate crime
Synopsis
A Hyderabad man was stabbed more than 15 times at a Utah shopping mall in what is being described as a targeted hate crime — the attacker allegedly confirmed he chose his victim for being Muslim and intended to kill him. With the victim critical and his family stranded in India, pressure is mounting on New Delhi to act fast.
Key Takeaways
Syed Sohailuddin , 37 , from Toli Chowki, Hyderabad , was stabbed more than 15 times at Valley Fair Mall , West Valley City, Utah on 13 July 2025 .
The alleged attacker, Peter Michael Larsen , 48 , reportedly told police he targeted the victim because he was Muslim and intended to kill him.
Bystanders overpowered Larsen and seized his knife before police arrived.
Sohailuddin remains in critical condition in a hospital in West Valley City ; his wife Amreen Firdouse fainted on learning of the attack.
The family has appealed to External Affairs Minister S.
Jaishankar for emergency humanitarian visas and immediate consular assistance.
MBT spokesman Amjed Ullah Khan has written to Jaishankar urging the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to intervene.
A Hyderabad man has been left in critical condition after being stabbed more than 15 times in an alleged hate crime at Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, Utah, on 13 July 2025. The victim, Syed Sohailuddin, 37, a resident of the Toli Chowki area of Hyderabad, had been operating a kiosk at the mall for the past two-and-a-half years.
What Happened at Valley Fair Mall
According to information received by the family, the assailant — identified as Peter Michael Larsen, 48 — allegedly asked Sohailuddin whether he was a Muslim before launching the attack. Larsen reportedly told police he had deliberately targeted the victim because of his religion and intended to kill him.
Bystanders intervened during the assault, overpowering Larsen and seizing his knife before police arrived. Disturbing footage of the attack was widely circulated on social media in the days following the incident. Sohailuddin remains admitted to a hospital in West Valley City and is reported to be in critical condition.
Family Appeals for Government Intervention
Sohailuddin's wife, Amreen Firdouse, is reported to have fainted upon learning of the attack. The couple has two children, aged five and three years. His sister-in-law, Asma Firdouse, has appealed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to raise the matter with US authorities and arrange emergency humanitarian visas for at least two family members to travel to the United States.
The family has urged the Indian government to intervene immediately, citing the severity of Sohailuddin's injuries and the need for relatives to be at his bedside.
Political Response and Consular Demands
Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) spokesman Amjed Ullah Khan visited the family and wrote to External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, urging him to direct the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to immediately contact Sohailuddin, coordinate with local authorities, and extend all necessary consular assistance to the injured Indian national and his family.
Khan has additionally requested the minister to take up the matter with the Embassy of the United States in New Delhi and the US Consulate in Hyderabad for the issuance of emergency visas to the victim's close relatives.
Broader Context: Hate Crimes Against Indians in the US
This incident comes amid growing concern in India over the safety of its nationals in the United States. Alleged religiously motivated attacks on Indian and South Asian Muslims in the US have drawn repeated calls for stronger diplomatic engagement. This case is particularly alarming given the attacker's alleged confession of intent and the severity of the injuries inflicted. The Ministry of External Affairs has not yet issued a public statement on the matter as of 16 July 2025.
With Sohailuddin's condition described as critical and his family in Hyderabad unable to reach him, the pressure on Indian diplomatic channels to act swiftly is intensifying.
Point of View
A silence that will be hard to defend as the victim's family remains stranded in Hyderabad. India's diplomatic response to hate crimes targeting its nationals abroad has historically been reactive and slow; this case, with its severity and documented intent, demands something faster. The family's request is modest — emergency visas for two relatives — and the absence of a swift response would signal a troubling gap between diplomatic rhetoric and on-ground action.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Syed Sohailuddin and what happened to him?
Syed Sohailuddin is a 37-year-old man from Toli Chowki, Hyderabad, who was operating a kiosk at Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, Utah. He was stabbed more than 15 times on 13 July 2025 in what is being investigated as a hate crime targeting him for his Muslim faith; he remains in critical condition.
Who has been identified as the attacker?
The attacker has been identified as Peter Michael Larsen, 48. According to reports, Larsen allegedly told police he deliberately targeted the victim because he was Muslim and intended to kill him. Bystanders overpowered him and seized his knife before police arrived.
What has the family of Syed Sohailuddin requested from the Indian government?
The family has appealed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to raise the matter with US authorities and arrange emergency humanitarian visas for at least two family members to travel to the United States. They have also requested the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to provide immediate consular assistance.
What role has the Majlis Bachao Tehreek played in this case?
MBT spokesman Amjed Ullah Khan visited the family and wrote to EAM Jaishankar urging the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to contact Sohailuddin and coordinate with local authorities. Khan also asked the minister to approach the US Embassy in New Delhi and the US Consulate in Hyderabad for emergency visas for the victim's relatives.
What is the current condition of Syed Sohailuddin?
Syed Sohailuddin is reported to be in critical condition and remains admitted to a hospital in West Valley City, Utah. His wife Amreen Firdouse fainted upon learning of the attack; the couple has two children aged five and three years.
