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In the US state of Utah, a case of attack on an Indian Muslim youth with a knife after asking him about his religion has come to light. The video of this incident is also going viral on social media. The police detained the accused on the spot. According to the police, the accused admitted during interrogation that he targeted the victim because he was a Muslim. After this incident, the local Muslim community and human rights organizations have expressed deep concern.

According to the documents presented in the court by the police, the accused had not only planned the attack but also said that his aim was to kill Muslims. Officials say that considering the accused’s statements, his alleged extremist thinking and violent intentions, he is being considered a serious threat to society.

Know the whole matter in 6 points

1. This incident happened on Monday at Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, Utah. According to the police, the accused suddenly attacked a Muslim youth working in a shop 15 times with a knife. The victim was seriously injured in the attack and suffered deep wounds on many parts of his body, which resulted in profuse bleeding.

2. According to officials, even before the police reached the spot, the people present in the mall showed courage and caught the accused and threw him on the ground. After this the police took him into custody. Peter Michael Larson, 48, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on charges of attempted murder and prohibited conduct to possession of a dangerous weapon, according to jail records.

3. The statement of the accused recorded in the police affidavit makes this case important in the direction of a possible hate crime. The accused said, “He targeted the victim with the intention of killing him because of his religion (Muslim).” According to investigators, the accused also said that he intended to kill Muslims.

4. According to local newspaper Salt Lake Tribune, Imam Shuaib Deen, head of the Utah Islamic Center and in contact with the victim’s family, said that the accused first approached the victim, asked his name, then inquired about his religion and gestured to ask for a bottle of water. According to Deen, as soon as the victim turned to get water, the accused started attacking him with a knife.

5. After the attack, the injured youth was admitted to the hospital, where his condition remains critical. A friend of the victim has started a GoFundMe campaign for his financial assistance. The campaign claims that the young man was attacked with a knife 15 times and had to undergo surgery.

6. According to the police, the accused also suffered injuries when passers-by overpowered him. After first aid he was sent to Salt Lake County Jail. Many Muslim rights organizations including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have strongly condemned this attack. The organizations have demanded a fair investigation into the case and strict action against the culprit.