Raul Morales faces multiple hate crime charges after allegedly stabbing two men in broad daylight on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Raul Morales faces several hate crime charges after allegedly stabbing two men in separate incidents on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Thursday. Prosecutors alleged that Morales first approached a 57-year-old Asian man from behind, shouting “Allahu Akbar” before plunging a knife into his back. Minutes later, Morales allegedly stabbed a 50-year-old Jewish man in the chest with a screwdriver as the man exited a nearby synagogue. Both victims are expected to survive. Morales was remanded in custody without bail and is scheduled for a psychiatric evaluation. While NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted there is no known link between Morales and the victims, the attacks occurred during a period of rising hate crimes in the city. The incident has drawn criticism toward Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Some residents, including Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus, have expressed frustration with the mayor's anti-Israel stance and his calls for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While Mamdani stated the administration will work to root out antisemitism, some Jewish New Yorkers feel the mayor's rhetoric has contributed to a less welcoming environment for the Jewish community.