SAN FRANCISCO, July 16 (ANI): The Consulate General of India in San Francisco on Wednesday expressed grief over the stabbing of an Indian national in the US state of Utah, saying it is in close contact with the victim’s family and is extending all possible consular assistance.
In a post on X, the Consulate said, “The Consulate General of India in San Francisco is deeply saddened by the tragic stabbing incident involving an Indian national in Utah. The Consulate is in close contact with the friends and family and stands ready to provide all possible consular assistance. We remain engaged with local authorities and will continue to monitor the matter closely.”
According to court documents cited by The New York Times, the victim, identified as Syed Sohail Uddin, an Indian-origin Muslim worker, sustained multiple stab wounds during an attack at Valley Fair Mall in Utah on Monday evening.
The victim was hospitalized after suffering multiple stab wounds. According to court documents, the suspect allegedly confessed to police that he had attempted to assassinate the victim because of his Islamic faith. Before launching the attack, the suspect, identified as Larsen, questioned the worker about his identity.
According to Luna Nunez, a coworker who later visited the victim in the hospital, the encounter began with tense questions. Larsen allegedly asked the worker where he was from, his name, and whether he was Muslim.
Immediately after the exchange, Larsen allegedly drew a knife and repeatedly stabbed the victim. The attack ended only after bystanders intervened, restrained the suspect, and took away the weapon, The New York Times reported.
Uddin remains hospitalized in critical condition. Adnan Mohammed, Uddin’s employer and a close family friend, described the severity of the injuries, saying the victim had wounds across his body and that a trauma team was closely monitoring his heart. Mohammed called it a “miracle” that Uddin survived the attack.
The incident has shaken the local community. Mohammed said the attack had left him fearful for his family’s safety after witnessing the aftermath and seeing hateful comments online, according to The New York Times.
“I’m a father, and I feel unsafe for my kids to be here,” Mohammed said. “It’s terrifying for me and my family. It’s traumatizing. I saw a lot of blood.”
Salvador Mendez, an employee at a nearby Lids store, recalled seeing the suspect being escorted from the mall by law enforcement. He said the suspect was covered in blood and stared at bystanders with what he described as hatred.
“I’ve just never seen anyone look at me that way,” Mendez said, adding that “he looked at us with hatred.”
Larsen was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on Monday evening on suspicion of attempted murder. According to the arresting officer’s affidavit, the suspect allegedly admitted during a law enforcement interview that “he believes he is a catalyst and he intends to kill Muslims.” (ANI)
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