A Muslim kiosk worker was critically injured after a stranger stabbed him repeatedly at a mall in Utah in an attack police say was motivated by his religion. Bystanders subdued the suspect and took away his knife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The stabbing happened just before 3 p.m. Monday at Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, near Salt Lake City, according to The Salt Lake Tribune<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 48-year-old suspect approached the worker and began a brief conversation, asking his name and religion before requesting a bottle of water, Imam Shuaib Din of the Utah Islamic Center told the outlet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the worker turned to get the water, the man pulled out a knife and began stabbing him. Several bystanders intervened before police arrived, subduing the attacker, pinning him to the ground and wrestling away the knife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The worker, identified by a fundraising campaign<\/a> only as Sohail, suffered more than 15 stab wounds and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The fundraiser said he needs surgery for injuries to his hands, heart and lungs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The suspect was also taken to a hospital after bystanders punched him in the head while subduing him. He was later booked into the Salt Lake County jail and ordered held without bail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man told police that he targeted the worker and intended to kill him \u201cbecause of his religion,\u201d according to a probable cause statement cited by The Salt Lake Tribune. No information was released about whether hate crime charges are being considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WATCH: Bystanders knocked out a suspect after he stabbed an employee at Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, Utah, before police took him into custody. \u26a0\ufe0f
https:\/\/t.co\/ibIQy3Gnc5<\/a><\/p>— RandomStuff A2Z (@RandomstuffA2Z) July 14, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>