A 51-year-old suspect is in custody after allegedly yelling “Allahu Akbar” while stabbing two men in what New York City officials are describing as an apparent antisemitic attack on Manhattan’s Upper West Side Thursday afternoon. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) identified the suspect as Raul Morales and said he was arrested in connection with both assaults, which occurred near West 84th Street and Central Park West, an area with a large Jewish community.
The first attack took place just after 1:30 p.m., when a 57-year-old man was stabbed in the back. Officers found him conscious and alert, and he was taken to a local hospital in stable condition. Investigators later discovered a 50-year-old man nearby with a stab wound to his torso. He was also conscious and alert and was transported to a hospital in stable condition. According to the NYPD, one of the victims is Jewish, and witnesses reported hearing the suspect yell “Allahu Akbar” during both assaults.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said initial findings suggest that mental health may have been a factor in the attacks, though the suspect has no known mental health history with the NYPD. Investigators are evaluating whether the incidents should be classified as a hate crime. Local news outlet WABC reported that police are investigating whether the suspect used a knife or a screwdriver during the alleged attacks.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a statement hours after the attack, saying he had been briefed on what he called “horrifying stabbings” and noting that the victims were an Asian man and a Jewish man. “According to witness and victim statements, the perpetrator yelled 'Allahu Akbar' during both attacks,” Mamdani said. “The NYPD responded immediately and arrested Raul Morales in connection with both assaults — and I am grateful to the officers for their swift response.” Mamdani’s statement came roughly two hours after City Council Speaker Julie Menin and about 45 minutes after Gov. Kathy Hochul had already condemned the attack.
Menin wrote on X that she was “absolutely sickened and furious by what appears to be an antisemitic stabbing on the Upper West Side.” She added, “The fear in the Jewish community is real. Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, regardless of their faith or identity. We must remain united in condemning antisemitism and ensuring those responsible are held fully accountable.” Hochul posted on X that she was “disgusted by what appears to be another senseless attack on New Yorkers simply because they’re Jewish.” She emphasized that “the strength of New York has always been our ability to live together across every faith and background” and vowed that anyone who tries to tear that apart “will be met with the full force of the law.”
New York Assembly member Micah Lasher, a Jewish representative of the area, said he was in touch with the NYPD and community leaders about the stabbings. “I am praying for the survival and recovery of the victims and will provide more information as I have it,” Lasher said. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also weighed in, saying he was “appalled but sadly not surprised” by the incident. In a post on X, Sa’ar blamed Mamdani for creating “a climate in which Jews are targeted,” citing what he described as “months of incitement against the Jewish state.” He added, “Words have consequences. Mamdani must end the incitement, confront antisemitism with resolve, and act now to protect the city’s Jewish community.”
The attack comes amid a broader rise in antisemitic incidents in New York City. According to recent NYPD data, antisemitic incidents have nearly tripled in the city even as other crimes have reached record lows. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from local and state officials, who have called for unity and accountability. The NYPD continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stabbings, and the suspect remains in custody. The FBI has not yet commented on the case.
