A 51-year-old man accused of stabbing two people on Manhattan’s Upper West Side while allegedly shouting “Allahu Akbar” has been charged with attempted murder, with hate crime counts filed in connection with one of the attacks, the New York City Police Department said.
Raul Morales shouted a cryptic message to reporters during a Friday afternoon perp walk, saying, “Justice for the Romero family,” before naming an unidentified woman and declaring, “you’re going to remember her name forever.”
Morales is charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon in the stabbing of a 57-year-old Asian man, according to the NYPD.
In the separate attack on a 50-year-old Jewish man, police said Morales faces attempted murder as a hate crime, assault as a hate crime, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
NYC stabbing suspect shouts cryptic message during perp walk after alleged hate crime attack
Investigators said the two stabbings appeared to be separate incidents that unfolded near one another Thursday afternoon on the Upper West Side. Authorities said they have not found any known connection between Morales and either victim.
Police said Morales allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attacks. The NYPD is continuing to examine whether bias was a motive.
Both victims were transported to a hospital and listed in stable condition. Police have said preliminary findings suggest mental health may have played a role, though Morales had no known mental health history with the NYPD.
