Two men were injured in separate Upper West Side stabbings before the NYPD arrested 51-year-old Raul Morales. Police are reviewing witness accounts and other evidence to determine the motive and whether either Manhattan attack should result in hate-crime charges.
Upper West Side Stabbings
A suspect is in custody after two men were stabbed in separate attacks on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Thursday, July 23, according to the New York City Police Department.
Police identified the man under investigation as 51-year-old Raul Morales. Authorities said the attacks happened in broad daylight at locations about two blocks apart near Central Park. One victim is a 57-year-old Asian man, while the other is a 50-year-old Jewish man. Both were taken to a hospital in stable condition and were expected to survive.
The NYPD has not announced a final motive or hate-crime charges. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding both assaults and whether the victims were targeted because of their identities.
NYPD Hate Crime Probe
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said victim and witness statements indicated that Morales allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar,” an Arabic phrase meaning “God is greatest,” during both incidents.
That reported statement forms part of the evidence detectives are reviewing, but it does not by itself establish motive. Tisch said the NYPD was evaluating the attacks as potential hate crimes while continuing to investigate other possible explanations.
Police said there was no known connection between Morales and either victim. Authorities also had not identified any connection between the two injured men. The initial investigation suggested that mental health concerns may have played a role, although detectives had not reached a final conclusion.
Treating the attacks as confirmed antisemitic crimes before investigators finish their work would be premature. One victim is Jewish, but police are also examining why the Asian victim was attacked and whether bias influenced either assault.
Raul Morales Arrest
The first attack reportedly occurred near West 84th Street and Central Park West. Police said the Asian victim suffered a stab wound to his back. The second assault happened nearby and involved the Jewish victim, who was reportedly attacked with a screwdriver.
Officers arrested Morales after investigators tracked him to a nearby apartment. Authorities recovered items believed to be connected to the assaults, while detectives continued gathering surveillance footage, physical evidence and statements from witnesses.
Morales remained in custody as the investigation continued. At the time of the initial announcement, authorities had not provided complete information about formal charges or whether he had obtained legal representation.
Zohran Mamdani Responds
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had been briefed on the “horrifying” attacks and thanked NYPD officers for responding quickly. He said both victims were stable and condemned violence directed at New Yorkers because of their identity.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also denounced the assaults and expressed support for the city’s Jewish and Asian communities. She said both communities have faced waves of hate-driven violence and stressed that authorities must confront bias wherever it appears.
The incident has renewed concern about community safety on the Upper West Side, an area with a substantial Jewish population. However, officials have urged the public to rely on verified investigative findings rather than assumptions based solely on reported words or the background of either victim.
Police Motive Investigation
Detectives must now determine whether the two assaults were random, connected to a mental health crisis, motivated by religious or racial bias, or driven by a combination of factors.
A hate-crime designation requires evidence that the suspect selected a victim because of a protected characteristic. Investigators will therefore examine the alleged statements, the choice of victims, Morales’ movements, recovered evidence and any prior conduct that could establish intent.
The NYPD has described the incidents as possible hate crimes, not confirmed ones. Further information is expected after prosecutors review the evidence and announce the charges they believe the facts can support.
