Stabbing Shock on Manhattan’s Upper West Side

In the early afternoon, two men were attacked with knives on a busy Manhattan street. One victim was Asian and the other Jewish, and witnesses heard the attacker shout “Allahu Akbar. ” Police are looking into whether these words point to hate or other motives. The suspect, a 51‑year‑old named Raul Morales, has been taken into custody. Investigators say he may have had mental health issues, but they are still trying to understand why he chose these two people. The first stabbing happened around West 84th Street and Central Park West, where a man was hit on the back. The second took place just a block away at West 86th Street, where another man was stabbed in the chest. Both were quickly moved to a nearby hospital and are alive but seriously wounded.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted on social media that he had been informed about the incidents and praised the police for their fast response. He also said the city would not tolerate such violence. A witness described seeing a man kneeling on the sidewalk with a knife sticking out of his back, “like a movie. ” She said it felt frightening to see such violence in daylight. Members of the Jewish neighborhood watch group Shomrim were called to the scene after one attack. They saw a man wearing a yarmulke, likely on his way to or from synagogue. A volunteer noted the victim was respected in the community and that police quickly apprehended the suspect after he fled. Police say there is no known connection between the attacker and either victim, nor between the two victims themselves. They are continuing to investigate all possible motives while keeping the public updated.

Actions