On Thursday, a double stabbing occurred on New York City's Upper West Side, resulting in the suspect, Raul Morales, 51, being charged with attempted murder as a hate crime, according to police. The incident took place on the Upper West Side, where Morales allegedly stabbed two men, Moshe Grunhaus, 50, a Jewish man, and a 57-year-old Asian man.

Charges and Investigation

Morales has been charged with attempted murder as a hate crime, assault as a hate crime, and criminal possession of a weapon for the stabbing of Grunhaus, police say. For the stabbing of the Asian man, Morales has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon, along with attempted murder and assault, but not as a hate crime. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that Morales allegedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" during both attacks.

The U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating the double stabbing, with its civil rights division involved in the case. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Morales' apartment building, where investigators seized a laptop and a bag of books, including the Quran and a book about Che Guevara.

Community Response

Rabbi Yosie Levine, of the Jewish Center, expressed his concern about the incident, stating that Grunhaus had been praying at his synagogue moments before he was stabbed. Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the attack, saying, "This kind of despicable violence is not who we are as a city... Every New Yorker deserves to be safe, regardless of their religion or race."

Both victims are recovering, with Grunhaus being released from the hospital on Friday afternoon. The second stabbing victim remains in the hospital but is doing well, according to a spokesperson for the Mount Sinai Health System.

Next Steps

Morales is due back in court on July 30, after being remanded following his court appearance on Friday night. The investigation is ongoing, with the community awaiting further updates on the case.

  • Attempted murder as a hate crime
  • Assault as a hate crime
  • Criminal possession of a weapon

The community will be watching for further developments in the case, including the outcome of the investigation and the prosecution of Morales. As the city continues to grapple with issues of hate crime and violence, residents are calling for increased safety measures and a stronger sense of community.