The Upper West Side stabbing is considered a hate crime after shouting Allah Akbar
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Witnesses recounted the stabbing of two people in New York City that was being investigated as a possible hate crime, with one calling the scene the “scariest thing” he had ever seen.
The suspect, identified as Raul Morales, 51, is accused of shouting “Allahu Akbar” when he stabbed two men on Manhattan’s Upper West Side Thursday afternoon, according to officials.
The NYPD is investigating whether bias played a role in the attack. One victim is Jewish, and the other is Asian, police said.
The police said that these incidents of stabbing each other appear to be separate from each other. Authorities said there is no known connection between Morales and the victims or between the two victims.
SUSPECT ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY SHOUTING ‘ALLAHU AKBAR,’ STABBING 2 MEN IN NYC ATTACK
The suspect allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attack. (Manhattan Shomrim Safety Patrol/@AGHamilton29 via X)
Both men were taken to hospital in stable condition.
Authorities are investigating whether a knife or screwdriver was used in the attack.
A witness described seeing a knife sticking out of one of the deceased following the stabbing.
“I just saw him sitting on his knees without moving at all, with this knife out. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen. The men who were working in the building were surprised and immediately ran to get help,” the witness told Fox 5 New York.
Another woman who said she was friends with one of the dead said she was inside the synagogue when she heard that someone had been stabbed. When he arrived at the scene, the victim was already being rushed to the hospital.
The NYPD is treating the incident as a possible hate crime. (Luiz C. Ribeiro of the NY Daily News)
“I spoke to eyewitnesses who said the man yelled ‘Allahu Akbar’ and took a screwdriver and stabbed him directly in the chest … then he walked away pretending he was innocent and said ‘maybe someone should call 911, it looks like someone is hurt on the road,'” Nava Silton told the outlet.
Silton said he later visited the victim in hospital and described him as a brave and courageous person.
“It’s incredibly scary and you’re just praying it doesn’t get worse. He had to take a screwdriver out of his body,” he said.
The NYPD’s preliminary findings suggest that mental health may be a factor.
“Although the perpetrator has no known history of mental health with the NYPD, the preliminary investigation indicates that mental health may have been a factor,” said Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
AMERICAN TOURISTS WALKED OUT OF ATHENS’ ACROPOLIS AS POLICE DETENTION SUSPECT IN VIOLENT ATTACK.
The NYPD’s preliminary results suggest that mental health may have been a factor. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Officials in the state condemned the attack, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“This hateful and disrespectful attack has no place in our city,” said Mamdani.
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Hochul said he is “disgusted by what appears to be yet another senseless attack on New Yorkers because they are Jewish.”
Anyone who tries to destroy that will be met with the arm of the law. New York will stand with our Jewish community today, tomorrow, and always,” he said.
