Two men were stabbed on Manhattan's Upper West Side and authorities have arrested 51-year-old Raul Morales, who is accused of shouting "Allahu Akbar" during the incidents. One victim is Jewish and the other is Asian; both were hospitalized in stable condition. Witnesses reported seeing a knife or screwdriver protruding from a victim and said the attacker appeared to feign ignorance after the assaults. The NYPD is investigating possible bias and whether mental health was a factor.
Witnesses Describe 'Scary' Upper West Side Stabbings After Suspect Allegedly Yelled "Allahu Akbar"
The suspect allegedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" during the attack.
Witnesses described chaotic and frightening scenes after two men were stabbed on Manhattan's Upper West Side on Thursday afternoon in incidents authorities are treating as a possible hate crime.
What Happened
Police identified the suspect as Raul Morales, 51, who is accused of shouting "Allahu Akbar" while assaulting two separate victims in nearby locations, officials said. Authorities said one victim is Jewish and the other is Asian. Both men were taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Witness Accounts
Several witnesses described seeing a weapon protruding from a victim. One bystander told a local station:
"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."
Another witness and friend of a victim, Nava Silton, said she spoke with direct eyewitnesses who reported that the assailant had yelled "Allahu Akbar," used what appeared to be a screwdriver to stab a man in the chest, and then walked away, seemingly feigning ignorance. Silton later visited the hospitalized victim and said he had had to pull the screwdriver out of his own body.
Initial NYPD findings suggest mental health may have been a factor.
Investigation Underway
The NYPD said the two stabbings appeared to be separate attacks that occurred close to one another and that there was no known connection between Morales and either victim. Investigators are reviewing whether a knife or a screwdriver was used and are probing whether bias motivated the incidents.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said early investigative findings suggest mental health may be a factor, though Morales has no documented mental-health history with the department.
Official Response
City and state officials condemned the violence. New York City officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Gov. Kathy Hochul called the attacks "hateful and despicable" and vowed to pursue the matter vigorously through the legal system.
Ongoing
The NYPD continues to interview witnesses and follow leads as it seeks to determine motive and to piece together the timeline of events. Further details will be released as the investigation progresses.
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