NYPD evaluating possible hate crime after 2 men were stabbed in unprovoked attack, officials say

Police Probe Hate Crime Motive Following Double Stabbing on Manhattan’s Upper West Side

Unprovoked Attacks Target Two Men in Broad Daylight

Sandego.net – Law enforcement officials in New York City are currently examining whether a pair of violent assaults that occurred Thursday afternoon may qualify as hate crimes. The incidents took place during daylight hours on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where two men were each stabbed by what appears to be the same individual. According to police statements, one of the victims is an Asian man while the other is Jewish, and both were targeted in separate but connected attacks.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch provided details about the situation, noting that both witnesses and the victims themselves reported hearing the attacker shout “Allahu Akbar” during each confrontation. This verbal exclamation has become a significant element in the ongoing investigation into potential religious or ethnic motivations behind the violence.

Suspect in Custody as Investigation Continues

The individual responsible for the stabbings has been identified as Raul Morales, a 51-year-old man who remains in police custody. Commissioner Tisch indicated that initial findings suggest mental health considerations may have played a role in the incidents, though authorities have not ruled out other possibilities. At this stage, investigators have found no established connection between Morales and either victim, nor between the two victims themselves.

Both men, aged 57 and 50 respectively, sustained multiple stab wounds across their bodies during the attacks. The assaults were described as completely unprovoked by two separate law enforcement sources familiar with the case. The first victim was discovered conscious and alert with a wound to his back following a 911 call received shortly after 1:30 pm. The second victim suffered a chest injury and was located just blocks away near West 86th Street and Central Park West, while the first incident occurred at West 84th Street and Central Park West.

Community Response and Witness Accounts

Both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital where they remain in stable condition and are expected to recover. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly addressed the incidents through a post on X, stating he had been informed about the “horrifying stabbings” and confirming that police are actively working to determine the attackers’ motives.

“These hateful and despicable attacks have no place in our city,” Mamdani wrote, expressing relief that both men survived with stable conditions.

Marianna Ellenberg, who witnessed one of the attacks, described seeing a man kneeling on the pavement with a knife protruding from his back. She remarked that while she had experienced robbery before, witnessing such direct violence in bright afternoon sunlight was particularly shocking. “It just kind of reminds you this idea of your safety zone, like nothing is safe,” she explained.

Significance of Tisha B’Av

Volunteers from Shomrim, a Jewish civilian neighborhood watch organization, responded to a call and arrived at the scene following one of the stabbings. Michael Jacobs, a Shomrim volunteer, told CNN that the victim they encountered was wearing a yarmulke and appeared to be either traveling to or returning from synagogue services. Jacobs emphasized that the victim was a well-regarded community member simply going about his prayers when attacked.

Notably, Jacobs pointed out that the assault occurred on Tisha B’Av, which is a traditional Jewish day of mourning and fasting. This timing has added another layer of significance to the community’s response. Volunteers observed the suspect fleeing the area and praised the swift police action that enabled his apprehension. “The police response was very, very quick, which was massively helpful in order to be able to catch him,” Jacobs stated.

CNN’s John Miller, Alaa Elassar, and Bonney Kapp contributed reporting to this story, which has been updated with additional information as the investigation progresses.