A possible hate crime occurred in New York City on Thursday after a man stabbed two people while yelling “Allahu Akbar,” Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed.
The NYPD has arrested 51-year-old Raul Morales in connection with both assaults, and no other people are being sought. Detectives are continuing to work the case and determine a motive, but according to victim and witness statements, Morales yelled the religious phrase during both attacks.
The NYPD is currently evaluating whether the assault is a potential hate crime, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch wrote on X.
“I want to commend the bravery of a good Samaritan who led our officers to the location where the perpetrator was hiding, as well as our NYPD cops who brought an end to the incident without further injuries,” she added.
The two victims of the individual stabbings, an Asian man and a Jewish man, were rushed to NYC’s Mt. Sinai-St. Luke’s Hospital and are reportedly in stable condition.
As reported by Tisch, mental health problems could have been at play.
“While the perpetrator has no known mental health history with the NYPD, the initial investigation suggests that mental health may have been a factor,” she wrote.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also addressed the news and said that “mental health may have played a factor.” He added that the incident was being investigated as a possible hate crime.
“According to witness and victim statements, the perpetrator yelled ‘Allahu Akbar’ during both attacks. I am relieved that both victims are in stable condition,” Mamdani wrote on X.
Congressional leaders also reacted to the news, including Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., who pointed a finger directly at those who “normalize antisemitism.”
“I have no doubt there will be many well-written social media posts condemning the antisemitic stabbings on the Upper West Side today, and I’m sure many people’s thoughts and prayers will be with the victims and their families,” Goldman wrote on X in response to Mamdani’s post.
“These statements ring hollow when so many in the city normalize antisemitism, including simply by associating American Jews with the actions of the Israeli government,” he continued. “Enough is enough.”
Goldman did not respond to the Daily Signal’s request for comment.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., called on Mamdani to “get it together” in an X post.
“This is the United States. Not some third-world failed state where you run around screaming ‘Allah Akbar’ & stabbing people because you feel like it. Get it together @NYCMayor,” she wrote.
Mamdani’s office did not return the Daily Signal’s request for comment by the time of publication.
Israeli’s ambassador to the United Nations also expressed outraged at the situation, directly attributing the attack to Mamdani’s anti-Israel campaign.
“The words and incitement of Zohran Mamdani endanger the lives of Jews in New York, the city that houses the largest Jewish community outside of Israel. Zohran Mamdani, it’s time you take responsibility and stop the dangerous political campaign you started!!!” Danny Dannon wrote on X.
“You are fanning the flames of hatred and endangering human lives,” he continued. “The more you stoke the flames, the more people will get hurt.@NYCMayor.”
Mamdani has long campaigned on a platform of opposing Israel’s campaign to defend against Islamic terrorism. He even called for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The recent knife attack adds to the list of hostile attacks on Jewish residents.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, more than 1,000 antisemitic attacks have occurred in New York City in the past year. Antisemitic hate crimes rose 186% in Mamdani’s first month in office, according to Combat Antisemitism.
In the last month alone, anti-Jewish hate crimes have gone up by 46% compared to the last three months, as reported to NYPD data.
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[ H/T The Daily Signal ]
