Two men attacked near Central Park on Manhattan’s Upper West Side remained in stable condition after a suspect allegedly shouted religious phrases during both stabbings, prompting New York police to investigate potential hate crime charges against the arrested individual.

Details of the Upper West Side Attacks

Police arrested Raul Morales, 51, following the stabbings that occurred around 1:31 p.m. on Thursday. The attacks took place approximately two blocks apart, with the first incident at 84th Street and Central Park West, followed by a second at 86th and Central Park West. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that victim and witness statements indicated Morales shouted religious phrases in Arabic during both attacks. Both adult male victims survived and were hospitalized in stable condition.

New York City Comptroller Mark Levine identified the victims as Chok Sung and Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus. Tisch noted one victim is Asian and the other is Jewish, adding weight to the department’s evaluation of whether the incidents constitute hate crimes. Rabbi Yosie Levine of the Jewish Center reported that Grunhaus was walking home from synagogue when attacked, just 200 feet from the Jewish Center.

Investigation and Community Response

Commissioner Tisch stated that while Morales has no known mental health history with police, the initial investigation suggests mental health may have been a factor. A bystander who led police to where Morales was hiding received praise from Tisch as a good Samaritan. Investigators found no evidence that either victim knew each other or the suspect prior to the attacks.

New York Attorney General Letitia James addressed growing concerns at a Friday news conference, acknowledging increases in both antisemitic acts and attacks against the Asian community in New York City. James pledged to use every available tool to protect both communities, though she noted she was asked not to draw premature conclusions about the attack’s motivation.

What This Means

Mayor Zohran Mamdani thanked responding officers and expressed gratitude that both victims were stable, calling the attacks hateful and despicable. Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the violence, emphasizing New York’s strength comes from its ability to unite people across every faith and background. The NYPD continues its investigation to determine the suspect’s motive while evaluating whether to pursue hate crime charges, which would carry enhanced penalties under New York law.