Raul Morales faces hate crime and attempted murder charges over the stabbing of a Jewish man and an Asian man in New York
New Delhi: A 51-year-old man has been charged with multiple hate crimes after carrying out two separate stabbing attacks targeting a Jewish man and an Asian man on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, while repeatedly shouting “Allahu Akbar” and “Justice for Islam,” according to New York authorities. The suspect, identified as Raul Morales, was arraigned on 25 July and remanded in custody without bail after prosecutors accused him of launching two unprovoked attacks within minutes of each other in broad daylight.
The incidents unfolded shortly after 1:30 p.m. on 24 July near Central Park West. According to investigators, Morales first approached a 57-year-old Asian man from behind near West 84th Street and Central Park West. Without any apparent provocation, he shouted “Allahu Akbar” before plunging a knife into the victim’s back. Prosecutors told the court that the victim was rushed to the hospital with the knife still embedded in his back and later underwent emergency surgery.
Despite the severity of his injuries, authorities said he is expected to recover. After the first assault, prosecutors said Morales continued walking several blocks north, passing a synagogue on West 83rd Street while shouting “Justice for Islam” and “Allahu Akbar.” Witnesses later told investigators they heard the suspect making those remarks near the synagogue before he encountered his second victim.
The second attack occurred near West 86th Street and Central Park West. Prosecutors argued that Morales targeted a Jewish man wearing a kippah who had just left The Jewish Centre synagogue after attending religious services marking Tisha B’av, the solemn Jewish day commemorating the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and other historic tragedies. Morales stabbed the victim in the chest with a screwdriver before fleeing the scene.
The Jewish victim was later identified by New York City Comptroller Mark Levine as Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus, while the Asian victim was identified as Chok Sung. Officials said both men remain in stable condition and are expected to survive. Authorities stressed that there is no known connection between Morales and either victim, nor is there any evidence that the two victims knew each other.
Morales was arrested on 25 July after a witness followed him as he fled from the second attack to the apartment where he had been staying. Prosecutors said the witness’s actions proved crucial in helping police locate the suspect. Officers reportedly spent nearly 50 minutes negotiating before Morales eventually surrendered peacefully.
During his appearance in Manhattan Criminal Court on 25 July, Morales was charged with two counts of attempted murder in the second degree as hate crimes, one count of assault in the first degree as a hate crime, one count of assault in the second degree as a hate crime, and one count of attempted assault in the first degree as a hate crime. Prosecutors said the combined charges carry a potential prison sentence of up to 40 years if he is convicted. His next court appearance has been scheduled for 30 July.
As Morales was escorted from a police station after his arrest, reporters questioned him about the attacks. He shouted about seeking justice for someone and, when asked directly about the stabbings, replied only that he was “gonna talk about it” before being placed into a police vehicle. His court-appointed attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said witness accounts consistently indicated that Morales repeatedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attacks. Investigators also cited witness statements contained in the criminal complaint alleging that Morales proclaimed “Justice for Islam” while walking near the synagogue shortly before attacking the Jewish victim.
Attorney General Letitia James joined city officials and community leaders in confirming that both victims remained in stable condition following treatment.
Rabbi Yosie Levine of The Jewish Centre said the Jewish victim had simply been leaving the synagogue after attending Tisha B’av services when he was attacked. “He was just trying to pray at his synagogue, and now we’re the ones praying for his recovery,” the rabbi said.
The Asian American Foundation likewise condemned the attacks, saying they highlighted continuing threats facing Asian Americans ranging from harassment to physical violence. The organisation called for sustained investment in community safety initiatives and hate-prevention measures designed to protect all communities.
Mark Levine said the latest attacks reflected a disturbing pattern of antisemitic violence in the city. Addressing Jewish and Asian communities together, he declared that New York stood united in outrage over the attacks and pledged continued solidarity with both groups.
Police statistics indicate that hate crimes in New York City have continued to rise in recent years even as overall violent crime has declined. Earlier this year, Commissioner Tisch disclosed that more than half of all confirmed hate crimes recorded in the city targeted Jewish people.
Updated NYPD figures covering the first six months of 2026 likewise show hate crimes increasing compared with the same period in 2025, with anti-Jewish offences accounting for more than half of all recorded incidents. Authorities continue to investigate whether additional evidence will further clarify Morales’ motive, but prosecutors have maintained that the available evidence demonstrates both attacks were deliberate hate crimes targeting victims because of their perceived religion and ethnicity.
