Asian, Jewish men stabbed in Manhattan; suspect shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’, NYPD probes hate crime

Two men were injured in separate stabbing attacks on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Thursday, prompting New York police to arrest a 51-year-old suspect and investigate whether the assaults were motivated by hate.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) identified the suspect as Raul Morales and said no other suspects are being sought. Both victims — an Asian man and a Jewish man — were taken to Mt. Sinai-St. Luke’s Hospital and are expected to recover.

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New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S Tisch said detectives were examining the motive behind the attacks, including whether they qualify as hate crimes.

According to Tisch, victim and witness statements indicate that Morales shouted “Allahu Akbar” during both assaults.

“The NYPD is currently evaluating whether this is a potential hate crime,” she said in a post on X.

Police said investigators have not found any known connection between Morales and either victim, or between the two victims themselves.

Tisch said the suspect had no known mental health history with the NYPD, although the preliminary investigation suggests mental health may have played a role in the attacks.

She also praised a bystander who helped officers locate the suspect.

“I want to commend the bravery of a good Samaritan who led our officers to the location where the perpetrator was hiding, as well as our NYPD cops who brought an end to the incident without further injuries,” she said.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had been briefed on the incident and expressed relief that both victims were in stable condition.

He thanked the NYPD for making a swift arrest and said investigators were examining the attacks as potential hate crimes while also looking into whether mental health was a contributing factor.

“These hateful and despicable attacks have no place in our city,” Mamdani said.

The investigation is ongoing.