NYPD Probes Possible Hate Crime After Knife Attack on Asian and Jewish Men

A stabbing attack in New York City is under investigation as a possible hate crime after a man allegedly targeted two individuals—an Asian man and a Jewish man—while reportedly yelling “Allahu Akbar,” according to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

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Authorities are weighing whether the assaults constitute a hate crime, as the incident highlights ongoing concerns about rising antisemitic violence and public safety in the city.

The NYPD arrested 51-year-old Raul Morales in connection with the attacks, which occurred on Thursday. Police said no other suspects are being sought. Both victims were hospitalized at Mt. Sinai-St. Luke’s and are in stable condition, according to officials. Commissioner Tisch stated that detectives are still working to determine Morales’s motive, but witness and victim statements indicated he shouted the religious phrase during both assaults.

Police Investigation and Motive

Commissioner Tisch announced on X that the NYPD is evaluating whether the stabbings meet the criteria for a hate crime. She also commended a bystander who helped officers locate the suspect, stating, “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.”

Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the attack, noting that “mental health may have played a factor” and confirming that the incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime. Tisch said Morales has no known mental health history with the NYPD, but initial findings suggest mental health could have been involved.

Political and Community Reactions

The attack drew swift responses from city and national leaders. Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., criticized those who “normalize antisemitism,” writing on X, “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. Enough is enough.” Goldman did not respond to a request for further comment.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., called on Mayor Mamdani to take stronger action, posting, “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.” Mamdani’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Dannon directly blamed Mamdani’s anti-Israel rhetoric for fueling the attack, stating on X, “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!!!”

“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.”

— Danny Dannon, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations

Antisemitic Incidents in New York

The attack comes amid persistent concerns about antisemitic violence in New York. According to the Anti-Defamation League, there were 1,160 reported antisemitic incidents in New York in 2025, a 19% decrease from the previous year but still more than double the number before the spike following the October 2023 Hamas attack in Israel. Assaults in New York rose by 10% to 90 cases in 2025, with 85 occurring in New York City and Orthodox Jews targeted in 50 of those attacks. New York State accounted for 44% of all antisemitic assaults in the U.S. last year, according to the ADL.

Recent NYPD data cited by city officials also show a 46% increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes in the last month compared to the previous three months. The ongoing debate over the causes and responses to such incidents remains contentious, with some leaders blaming political rhetoric and others pointing to broader social and mental health factors.

The NYPD investigation into the motive behind Thursday’s stabbing is ongoing, and officials have not yet determined whether the case will be formally classified as a hate crime.