Police say Raul Morales, 51, stabbed two men in separate daytime attacks near Central Park. Both victims are expected to survive.
What happened
A man has been charged with hate crimes after two people were stabbed in separate attacks on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Thursday, police said. The stabbings happened a few blocks apart near Central Park West, beginning around 1:30 p.m.
Police identified the suspect as 51-year-old Raul Morales. He was taken into custody on Thursday afternoon.
Both victims were taken to a hospital, according to police. Both are expected to survive, and one had been discharged by Friday.
The two attacks
In the first attack, a 57-year-old Asian man was walking near West 84th Street when he was stabbed in the back from behind, police said. Prosecutors said the suspect used a knife.
A short time later, a 50-year-old Jewish man was stabbed near West 86th Street, police said. That victim had recently left a synagogue, according to prosecutors, who said a screwdriver was used in the second attack.
Witnesses told police the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attacks, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
The charges
Morales was charged with attempted murder as a hate crime and assault as a hate crime in connection with the attack on the Jewish man, police said. He faces attempted murder and assault charges in the attack on the Asian man.
He also faces weapon possession charges in both cases. Morales appeared in court late Friday. He has not entered a reported plea, and the charges are allegations that have not been proven.
Investigation and response
Commissioner Tisch said the department was evaluating the attacks as a possible hate crime, citing statements from victims and witnesses. She added that Morales had no known mental health history with the NYPD, but that the early investigation suggested mental health may have been a factor.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the attacks, calling them “horrifying.” He said he expected the district attorney to prosecute the case fully.
What happens next
The case now moves through the court system. Morales remains in custody. He has been charged but not convicted of any crime.
