Witnesses have recounted the chaotic moments surrounding two stabbings in New York City that are being looked into as potential hate crimes. One individual described the scenes as “the most horrifying” he had ever witnessed.
The suspect, identified as 51-year-old Raul Morales, allegedly stabbed two men on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on Thursday afternoon while shouting “Allah Akbar,” according to authorities.
The New York City Police Department is examining if bias was a factor in the incident. Reports indicate that one victim is Jewish and the other is Asian.
The police noted that these stabbings seemed to be isolated incidents happening in close proximity but confirmed there was no prior connection between Morales and either victim.
The two men were transported to the hospital, and thankfully, their conditions are stable.
Authorities are also looking into whether a knife or a screwdriver was used in the attack, as witnesses mentioned seeing a knife protruding from one of the victims.
One witness described seeing a man on his knees, completely unresponsive, with a knife stuck in him. “It was the most horrifying thing I’ve ever seen. The workers nearby promptly ran for help,” he recounted.
Another woman, a friend of one of the victims, shared that she was inside a synagogue when she heard about the stabbing. By the time she arrived at the scene, the victim had already been taken away for medical attention.
Another witness, Nava Shilton, recounted a chilling moment where the suspect supposedly yelled “Allah Akbar,” then stabbed someone with a screwdriver before casually walking away and suggesting that someone call 911.
Shilton later visited the victim in the hospital and described him as being courageous amid the terrifying ordeal. “It was incredibly scary, and I just hope it doesn’t escalate. They had to remove the screwdriver from my body,” she said.
Initial findings from the NYPD indicate possible mental health issues may have contributed to the attack. Police Chief Jessica Tisch noted that while the assailant doesn’t have a documented mental health history with the NYPD, the investigation is still ongoing.
Officials including New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul have publicly condemned the attack. Mamdani stated, “Hateful and despicable attacks like this have no place in our cities.” Hochul expressed her disgust at the senseless violence against a New Yorker simply for being Jewish, emphasizing that New York stands with its Jewish community now and always.
