Upper West Side Stabbings Spark Hate-Crime Investigation and Political Backlash

On a Thursday afternoon in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, two men were stabbed in separate attacks a few blocks apart. At West 84th Street and Central Park West, 57-year-old Asian man Chok Sung was stabbed in the back. Minutes later, at West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, 50-year-old Jewish man Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus—wearing a yarmulke—was stabbed in the torso with a screwdriver. Both victims were taken to nearby hospitals and were reported to be in stable condition. Police identified the assailant as 51-year-old Raul Morales, who shouted “Allahu Akbar” during each attack and was taken into custody on July 23 after a good-Samaritan led officers to his apartment. The NYPD opened a hate-crime investigation, noting no known link between Morales and either victim.

New York TimesBreitbartNewsweekWNYW - Fox 5 - New YorkThe GuardianABC7 New YorkNYC stabbing attacks that injured 2 being evaluated as potential hate crime: NYPD CNN

Hate-crime incidents have risen sharply in New York City, with antisemitic offenses accounting for more than half of all confirmed bias crimes this year. Mayor Zohran Mamdani—a vocal critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—had released a video calling the Israeli leader a “war criminal,” prompting Jewish organizations to warn that his rhetoric could “fan the flames of hatred.”

New York Daily News

• NYPD data show antisemitic incidents comprised 57 % of all reported hate crimes last year.

Breitbart

• Over 50 % of the city’s hate-crime cases this year targeted Jewish people.

Breitbart

• The second stabbing occurred on Tisha B’Av, the Jewish day of mourning.

Jewish Insider

• Kathy Hochul, governor of New York, described the incident as “senseless” and emphasized the city’s tradition of living together across faiths.

Newsweek

• Letitia James, New York Attorney General, said she had spoken with Tisch and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and urged full prosecution, while noting she was asked not to draw conclusions about motive.

ABC7 New York

Jewish leaders linked the mayor’s anti-Israel statements to the climate that enabled the attack.

Politico

• Julie Menin, City Council Speaker, called for “bringing the temperature down” on rhetoric that she said “matters.”

Politico

• Michael Jacobs, a Shomrim volunteer, confirmed the Jewish victim was wearing a yarmulke and was leaving a synagogue when attacked.

Fox News (website)

• Juan Garcia, a local resident, described seeing the stabbed Jewish man on his knees with a screwdriver on the floor.

The Guardian

• Charge status: Some outlets reported Morales had been charged with attempted murder and assault as hate crimes, while others indicated charges were still pending as of Friday.

WNYW - Fox 5 - New York

• Weapon description: Reports vary between a knife for the first stabbing and a screwdriver for the second, with some noting “a blade” for both.

CNN

• Motive: Police have not established a definitive motive. Tisch highlighted mental health as a possible factor; community leaders emphasize the mayor’s rhetoric as a contributing influence.

NBC News

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

CNN

• “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

CNN

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

CNN

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is expected to decide whether to file formal hate-crime charges against Morales. The NYPD will continue to assess motive, including the role of mental health, while city officials and community leaders press for broader measures to curb hate-motivated violence.

Breitbart