Upper West Side Stabbings Prompt Hate Crime Investigation

On Thursday, two men were stabbed in broad daylight on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The first victim, a 57-year-old Jewish man leaving the Jewish Center on West 86th Street, was attacked near Central Park West while wearing a yarmulke. The second, a 50-year-old Asian man, was stabbed a few blocks away on West 84th Street while looking at an iPad. Both victims were taken to Mount Sinai Morningside in stable condition and are expected to survive.

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Police identified 51-year-old Raul Morales as the suspect. He has been charged with attempted murder and assault as hate crimes for the attack on the Jewish victim, and with attempted murder for the attack on the Asian victim, in addition to weapon-possession charges.

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Witnesses and victim statements reported that Morales shouted “Allahu Akbar” during each assault. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said mental-health issues “may have been a factor.” NYPD data show that more than half of the city’s confirmed hate crimes in the first half of the year were anti-Jewish, even though Jewish New Yorkers comprise roughly 10 % of the population.

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The incident occurred on Tisha B’Av, a Jewish day of mourning, heightening community concern. Rabbi Yosie Levine of the Jewish Center expressed fear for congregants, noting a shift from “low priority” to discussions of bullet-proof glass and security guards.

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Commissioner Tisch emphasized that detectives are still determining motive and that no link has been found between Morales and either victim. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, briefed on the “horrifying stabbings,” condemned the attacks as hateful and despicable, and affirmed that police response was swift. Shomrim volunteer Michael Jacobs described the Jewish victim as a respected neighbor simply going to pray.

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• “At this time there is no known link between Morales and either of the victims, nor between the victims and each other,” — Jessica Tisch, NYPD commissioner

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• “These hateful and despicable attacks have no place in our city,” — Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor

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• “He’s a respected person in the neighborhood, minding his own business, just going to pray,” — Michael Jacobs

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