Two man were stabbed by a suspected extremist on Thursday in separate incidents on Manhattan’s West Side.
According to the New York Police Department, the attacks occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m. The first incident took place near the intersection of West 84th Street and Central Park West. The second occurred nearby, near West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
Police identified the suspect as 51-year-old Raul Morales, who was arrested in connection with the attacks. He was taken into custody after a bystander directed officers to an apartment building on Amsterdam Avenue where Morales was located.
He was ultimately arrested following negotiations by the NYPD Emergency Service Unit around 2:45 p.m.
Morales has prior arrests on his record, including drug-related charges from 1991. Authorities have stated there is no known connection between Morales and either of the victims, nor between the two victims themselves. Officials added that Morales is believed to have acted alone, and no additional suspects are being sought at this time.
The victims were an Asian male and a Jewish male. Reports indicate the first victim, a 57-year-old man, was stabbed once in the back. The second victim, a 50-year-old man who was wearing a kippah, was stabbed in the chest.
Different accounts describe the use of a knife in one attack and a screwdriver in the other. Both victims were conscious and alert when found, and were quickly transported to a local hospital, where they remain in stable condition and are expected to survive.
NEW: 2 stabbed in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, including at least one ‘visibly Jewish’ victim; suspect yelled ‘Allahu Akbar’ pic.twitter.com/6nq7hwiyt4
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According to victim and witness statements, Morales yelled “Allahu Akbar” during both attacks. The incidents occurred on Tisha B’Av, a Jewish fast day. One of the victims was near a synagogue at the time of the second attack.
The NYPD is evaluating whether the stabbings constitute a potential hate crime. The initial investigation also suggests that mental health may have been a factor, though Morales has no known mental health history with the NYPD, according to a statement from New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
“At this time there is no known link between Morales and either of the victims, nor between the victims and each other. I want to commend the bravery of a good Samaritan who led our officers to the location where the perpetrator was hiding, as well as our NYPD cops who brought an end to the incident without further injuries,” Tisch added.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also issued a statement condemning the attacks and expressing support for the Jewish community. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue to review evidence, witness accounts, and other factors to determine the full circumstances and any applicable charges.
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