Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, Jul 24: New York police are investigating a possible hate crime after two people were stabbed near a synagogue close to Central Park on Thursday by a man who allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attacks.
According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Raul Morales, allegedly targeted two individuals in separate incidents before being arrested following a police operation.
One of the victims, identified as Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus, was attacked with a screwdriver shortly after leaving a Jewish centre where he had attended religious services marking a Jewish day of mourning commemorating the destruction of the ancient temples in Jerusalem. A local rabbi said Grunhaus had just exited the synagogue when the assault occurred.
The second victim, identified as Chok Sung, an individual of East Asian descent, was stabbed with a knife at a nearby location.
Both victims were rushed to hospital and are expected to recover, officials said.
Commissioner Tisch stated that witness accounts and statements from the victims indicated that Morales repeatedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” during both attacks. Investigators are examining whether the assaults qualify as hate crimes while also exploring other possible motives.
Authorities said the suspect fled the scene and later barricaded himself inside a nearby public housing apartment before being taken into custody. Police credited a bystander for helping officers locate the suspect's hideout, with Tisch praising the individual’s “bravery” in assisting the investigation.
A photograph circulated by Manhattan Shomrim, a Jewish neighbourhood safety patrol, showed the alleged attacker wearing a camouflage-patterned T-shirt with a closely shaved head.
Mayor Zohair Mamdani condemned the attacks, describing them as “hateful and despicable,” while noting that preliminary findings suggested mental health issues may have played a role in the incident.
“The perpetrator yelled ‘Allahu Akbar’ during both attacks,” the mayor said in a post on X, adding that such acts of violence have no place in New York City.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin also expressed concern, saying the incident reflected growing fears within the Jewish community.
“The fear in the Jewish community is real. Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their neighbourhood, regardless of their faith or identity,” she wrote on social media.
The attack also drew a response from the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York, which linked the incident to what it described as an increasingly hostile environment for Jewish residents. The organisation argued that rhetoric directed at Israel contributes to a broader climate of hostility toward Jewish communities, a claim that has not been endorsed by law enforcement.
Police statistics indicate that anti-Semitic incidents remain the largest category of hate crimes in New York City. According to official data, 152 confirmed hate crimes targeting Jewish people were recorded through May this year, while anti-Semitic incidents during May alone rose by 70 per cent compared with the same month last year.
The stabbing comes amid heightened security concerns in New York following several recent violent incidents. Earlier this year, authorities investigated an alleged Islamic State-inspired bombing attempt targeting an anti-Islamist protest, while earlier this week another individual allegedly set a fire outside an immigration enforcement office and fired shots using an air rifle.