Witnesses described a frightening scene after two men were stabbed on Manhattan’s Upper West Side in attacks New York City police are now reviewing as a possible hate crime. One bystander said the violence was the “scariest thing” she had ever witnessed.
Authorities identified the suspect as 51-year-old Raul Morales. Officials said Morales is accused of shouting “Allahu Akbar” while stabbing the two men on Thursday afternoon.
The NYPD said investigators are working to determine whether bias motivated the attacks. Police said one of the victims is Jewish and the other is Asian.
According to police, the incidents appeared to be separate assaults that happened in close proximity. Investigators said they have not found any known connection between Morales and either victim, or between the two victims themselves.
The suspect allegedly yelled “Allahu Akbar” during the attack. (Manhattan Shomrim Safety Patrol/@AGHamilton29 via X)
Both victims were transported to a hospital, where authorities said they were listed in stable condition.
Police are also examining whether the weapon used in the stabbings was a knife or a screwdriver.
One witness said she saw what appeared to be a knife protruding from one of the victims after the attack.
“I just saw him sitting on his knees not moving at all, with this knife sticking out. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen. The men who worked in the building are amazing and they just ran to get help,” the witness told Fox 5 New York.
Another woman, who said she was friends with one of the victims, said she was inside a synagogue when she heard that someone had been stabbed. When she reached the scene, the victim was already being taken to the hospital.
The NYPD is looking into the incident as a possible hate crime. (Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Daily News)
“I spoke to direct eyewitnesses who said that this man had yelled ‘Allahu Akbar’ and had taken a screwdriver and stabbed him directly in the chest … then the guy walked away and kind of pretended he was not culpable and said ‘maybe someone should call 911, it looks like someone’s hurt on the street,'” Nava Silton told the outlet.
Silton said she later visited the victim in the hospital and described him as brave and courageous.
“It is incredibly scary and he’s just praying the condition doesn’t get worse. He had to pull the screwdriver out of his body,” she said.
Initial NYPD findings suggest mental health may have been a factor.
“While the perpetrator has no known mental health history with the NYPD, the initial investigation suggests that mental health may have been a factor,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
Initial NYPD findings suggest mental health may have been a factor. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Officials across the state denounced the attack, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“These hateful and despicable attacks have no place in our city,” Mamdani said.
Hochul said she was “disgusted by what appears to be another senseless attack on New Yorkers simply because they’re Jewish.”
Anyone who tries to tear that apart will be met with the full force of the law. New York will stand with our Jewish community today, tomorrow, and always,” she said.
