A suspect is in custody after two men were stabbed Thursday afternoon in what authorities are investigating as an apparent antisemitic attack on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
According to the New York City Police Department, 51-year-old Raul Morales was arrested after two separate but nearby stabbings near West 84th Street and Central Park West. Witnesses and victims reported that the suspect yelled “Allahu Akbar” during both assaults.
WATCH: Police arrest 51-year-old Raul Morales after he allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” while stabbing two people in separate attacks on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Investigators are probing a possible antisemitic hate crime. pic.twitter.com/G52elW4IZd
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 24, 2026
One victim, a 57-year-old man, suffered a stab wound to his back, while a second victim, 50, was stabbed in the torso. Both were transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
Police are investigating whether the attacks should be classified as a hate crime. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the suspect has no known mental health history with the department, but “the initial investigation suggests that mental health may have been a factor.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had been briefed on what he described as “horrifying stabbings” and confirmed that “according to witness and victim statements, the perpetrator yelled ‘Allahu Akbar’ during both attacks.”
City Council Speaker Julie Menin condemned what she called “what appears to be an antisemitic stabbing on the Upper West Side.”
“The fear in the Jewish community is real,” Menin wrote. “Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, regardless of their faith or identity.”
Order Don Dickerman’s Book, “Death Row Redemption” on Amazon.com!
Gov. Kathy Hochul also denounced the violence, saying she was “disgusted by what appears to be another senseless attack on New Yorkers simply because they’re Jewish.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded by saying he was “appalled but sadly not surprised” by the attack, adding that “words have consequences” as he criticized Mamdani’s past rhetoric regarding Israel.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attacks, the weapon used, and whether hate crime charges will be filed.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
