A suspected extremist stabbed two men in separate attacks on Manhattan’s West Side Thursday afternoon, sending shockwaves through a city already on edge about hate-motivated violence.
The New York Police Department says both incidents unfolded shortly after 1:30 p.m. The first attack happened near West 84th Street and Central Park West. The second took place just blocks away, near West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
Authorities identified the suspect as 51-year-old Raul Morales. He was taken into custody after a bystander directed officers to an apartment building on Amsterdam Avenue where he was hiding. The NYPD Emergency Service Unit negotiated his arrest around 2:45 p.m.
According to a report, witnesses and victims stated that Morales shouted “Allahu Akbar” during both attacks. The incidents took place on Tisha B’Av, a significant Jewish fast day, and one victim was near a synagogue at the time of the second attack.
The two victims were an Asian male and a Jewish male. The first, a 57-year-old man, was stabbed once in the back. The second, a 50-year-old man who was wearing a kippah, was stabbed in the chest. Accounts differ on whether a knife or a screwdriver was used in each attack. Both men were conscious and alert when found, transported to a nearby hospital, and are currently listed in stable condition.
Authorities confirmed there is no known connection between Morales and either victim, nor between the two victims themselves. Morales is believed to have acted alone, and no additional suspects are being sought.
Morales has prior arrests on record, including drug-related charges from 1991. The NYPD is now evaluating whether the stabbings qualify as a hate crime. Early indications also suggest mental health may have been a factor, though New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted Morales has no known mental health history with the department.
“At this time there is no known link between Morales and either of the victims, nor between the victims and each other,” Tisch said. She also praised the bystander who helped lead officers to Morales, and commended the officers who resolved the situation without further injuries.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement condemning the attacks and expressing solidarity with the Jewish community.
The investigation remains active as detectives continue reviewing evidence, witness accounts, and other factors to determine the full circumstances and what charges may follow.