A 51-year-old man was arrested following a stabbing spree on Manhattan’s Upper West Side Thursday afternoon that left two men injured, including a Jewish man who had just attended services at a local synagogue, authorities said. The suspect, identified as Raul Morales, reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attacks, which are under investigation as possible hate crimes.
The first stabbing occurred around 1:30 p.m. near West 84th Street and Central Park West, where Morales stabbed a 57-year-old Asian man in the back. Eyewitnesses described the victim bleeding heavily at the scene. Morales then fled but soon reappeared near The Jewish Center, a synagogue located at West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. There, he stabbed a 50-year-old Jewish man, identified by police sources and family as Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus, in the abdomen with a screwdriver. Grunhaus had just exited the synagogue after attending Tisha B’Av services when the assault took place.
Both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital and are expected to recover. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the NYPD is assessing whether the attacks were motivated by hate and noted that while Morales has no documented mental health history with law enforcement, mental health may be a factor in the case.
After the second stabbing, Morales was apprehended inside a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) building on Amsterdam Avenue near West 89th Street, after a bystander alerted police to his location. The suspect resides on the 11th floor of that building. Tisch praised the quick response of police officers and the assistance of the good Samaritan who helped locate Morales.
Morales has a history of arrests in New York City, including multiple drug-related offenses. Officials have not yet filed formal charges against him.
The attack outside The Jewish Center heightened concerns among the local Jewish community and city officials about a potential antisemitic motive. A representative for The Jewish Center characterized the incident as a hate crime, citing the victim’s Jewish identity. City Council Speaker Julie Menin condemned the attack, calling it “abhorrent” and emphasizing the need to address antisemitism and ensure community safety. Governor Kathy Hochul also denounced the stabbings, describing them as senseless attacks motivated by hatred.
Grunhaus’ relatives, still coming to terms with the incident, expressed shock and planned to return to New York City in the coming hours. Residents in the area voiced concern over the midday violence, noting the unsettling nature of the attacks in what is generally considered a safe neighborhood.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the assaults, with a focus on whether the incidents constitute hate crimes. Officials stressed that such violent acts have no place in the city.