Two men were stabbed on Thursday afternoon in separate incidents on the Upper West Side. A 40-year-old man was stabbed in the torso near West 84th Street and Central Park West, while a 50-year-old man was stabbed in the torso with a screwdriver near West 86th Street and Central Park West, close to a synagogue. Both victims were taken to a local hospital in stable condition.
Authorities have taken a person of interest, identified by PIX11 as Raul Morales, 51, into custody. Morales allegedly yelled “Allahu Akbar” during both attacks. While there is no evidence linking Morales to either of the victims, and the victims do not know each other, the NYPD is investigating a potential antisemitic motive. Speaker Julie Menin has expressed concerns regarding the possibility of an antisemitic attack.
Initially, the NYPD reported that mental health might have been a factor in the attacks. The investigation is ongoing, and no additional details were immediately available regarding the motives or further specifics of the incidents. The stabbings have prompted reactions from city officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who stated, “These hateful and despicable attacks have no place in our city.” The charges against Morales are pending.
