Police are investigating a pair of violent attacks on the Upper West Side as a possible hate crime after a man allegedly stabbed two strangers in broad daylight near Central Park on Thursday.
The suspect, 51-year-old Raul Morales, attacked a 57-year-old Asian man and a 50-year-old Jewish man in separate incidents roughly two blocks apart. He allegedly used a knife against the first victim and a screwdriver against the second, according to the New York Police Department. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Morales shouted "Allahu Akbar" before the stabbings.
Both victims were taken to Mount Sinai hospital and listed in stable condition. The attacks unfolded in Manhattan's affluent Upper West Side neighborhood, raising alarms about random violence in a busy commercial area.
After the stabbings, Morales returned to his apartment in the neighborhood. A witness observed him entering a building and directed officers to the location, helping police apprehend the suspect quickly. Tisch praised the bystander's intervention, calling it an act of bravery.
Investigators are examining whether mental illness played a role in the attacks. While Morales has no documented mental health history with the NYPD, Tisch indicated that "the initial investigation suggests that mental health may have been a factor." Police said they have found no connection between Morales and either victim, nor any link between the victims themselves.
City officials condemned the violence. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he was "relieved that both victims are in stable condition" and stated that "these hateful and despicable attacks have no place in our city."
Author James Rodriguez: "Two random New Yorkers stabbed in the same afternoon raises serious questions about random violence in the city, and investigators will need to determine whether ideology, mental illness, or both drove this attack."
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