Police responded to two separate stabbings on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Thursday afternoon, an incident now being examined as a possible hate crime.
The alleged attacker, identified as 51‑year‑old Raul Morales, was reported to have shouted “Allahu Akbar” while assaulting the victims.
One victim is Jewish and the other Asian; both were transported to a hospital in stable condition after the attacks.
Authorities indicated that the assaults occurred near each other but found no known link between the suspect and either victim, nor any connection between the two victims themselves.
A witness described seeing a knife protruding from one of the victims, stating the scene was the “scariest thing” they had ever witnessed.
Another eyewitness recounted that the assailant used a screwdriver to stab a victim in the chest before walking away and urging a bystander to call emergency services.
The injured man later required removal of the screwdriver from his body and was described by a visitor as courageous while remaining in the hospital.
Preliminary findings suggest mental health may have contributed to the suspect’s behavior, though no prior mental health record with police is known.
City officials condemned the attacks, emphasizing that such hateful violence has no place in the community and pledging full legal action against perpetrators.
