A suspect is in custody following two stabbings on Manhattan's Upper West Side that officials are investigating as a possible antisemitic attack.
The assaults occurred Thursday afternoon near West 84th Street and Central Park West, an area with a large Jewish community. Police identified the suspect as Raul Morales, 51.
According to investigators, the suspect yelled "Allahu Akbar" during both attacks, which took place in close proximity to each other shortly after 1:30 p.m. local time.
A 57-year-old man suffered a stab wound to the back and was found conscious and alert. He was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
A second victim, a 50-year-old man, was discovered nearby with a stab wound to the torso. He was also conscious and alert and taken to a hospital in stable condition.
One victim is Jewish and the other is Asian, officials confirmed. The NYPD is evaluating whether the attacks should be classified as hate crimes.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that while the suspect has no known mental health history with the department, the initial investigation suggests mental health may have been a factor.
Investigators are still determining whether a knife or a screwdriver was used in the assaults.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had been briefed on what he described as horrifying stabbings and praised the NYPD's swift response in apprehending the suspect.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin condemned the violence as abhorrent and emphasized that the fear in the Jewish community is real, calling for unity against antisemitism.
Governor Kathy Hochul expressed disgust at what she called another senseless attack on New Yorkers because they are Jewish, vowing that anyone who tries to tear communities apart will face the full force of the law.
State Assembly member Micah Lasher, who represents the area, said he is in contact with the NYPD and community leaders and is praying for the victims' recovery.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said he was appalled but not surprised by the incident, attributing the climate of targeting Jews to months of incitement against the Jewish state.
