
“Allahu Akbar” Rampage: Hate Crime Charges Filed After Jewish, Asian Men Stabbed in NYC
The man accused of carrying out two violent stabbing attacks on Manhattan’s Upper West Side — including the daylight assault of a Jewish man wearing a yarmulke — has now been hit with multiple hate crime charges, according to law enforcement sources.
Authorities said 51-year-old Raul Morales has been charged with attempted murder as a hate crime and assault as a hate crime for allegedly stabbing the Jewish victim in the chest with a screwdriver while the victim was walking in broad daylight wearing a yarmulke.
Investigators said Morales allegedly shouted, “Allahu Akbar!” during the violent spree while also wandering through the area repeatedly muttering, “Islam.”
In addition to the hate crime counts, Morales has also been charged with first-degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the attack on the Jewish victim, sources said.
Police said Morales allegedly struck another victim before targeting the Jewish man, stabbing an Asian passerby in the back during the earlier attack.
For that assault, prosecutors have charged Morales with attempted murder, first-degree assault, and criminal possession of a weapon, according to law enforcement sources.
Both victims remain hospitalized as they continue recovering from their injuries.