New York police have arrested a suspect in two stabbings on Manhattan's Upper West Side. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
According to police, 51-year-old Raul Morales allegedly stabbed an Asian man and a Jewish man, yelling "Allahu Akbar" during both attacks. The victims were taken to a hospital and are expected to survive.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the investigation is ongoing and that mental health may have been a factor. Morales remains in custody without an attorney.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the attacks "horrifying" and expressed relief that the victims are in stable condition. "These hateful and despicable attacks have no place in our city," he posted on X.
Hate crimes in New York City have been on the rise in recent years, while overall violent crime rates have dropped. Tisch said in April that more than half of all confirmed hate crimes in the city this year targeted Jewish people.
Governor Kathy Hochul expressed disgust at the attacks and emphasized that New York stands with its Jewish and Asian communities. "Asian New Yorkers, like Jewish New Yorkers, have endured waves of hate-fueled violence in recent years. Hate rarely stops with one group. New York will continue confronting it wherever it appears," she said.