A 51-year-old man was taken into custody on Thursday following two separate stabbing incidents in Manhattan's Upper West Side, which are being investigated by the New York Police Department as potential hate crimes.
The suspect, identified as Raul Morales, allegedly attacked an Asian man and a Jewish man, reportedly shouting the Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar” during both incidents, according to witnesses.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that investigators are working to ascertain Morales's motives. Currently, there appears to be no known connection between him and the victims, and initial assessments suggest that mental health issues may have played a role in the attacks.
Both stabbings occurred in broad daylight and approximately two blocks apart. The victims were transported to a local hospital and are expected to recover.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the attacks, labeling them “horrifying” and expressing relief that the victims are in stable condition. He emphasized that such acts of hate are unacceptable in the city.
Recent police data indicates a rise in hate crimes across New York City, even as overall violent crime rates have decreased. Tisch noted that more than half of the confirmed hate crimes reported this year have targeted Jewish individuals.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also expressed her disgust over the stabbings, affirming solidarity with the Jewish and Asian communities in the face of escalating hate-fueled violence.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
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