UWS Stabbings Under Hate Crime Probe; Suspect Named

Two men were stabbed in separate attacks on Manhattan’s Upper West Side near Central Park, after police arrested 51-year-old Raul Morales and began evaluating the incidents as a possible hate crime following witnesses who said he yelled 'Allahu Akbar' during both assaults. One victim is Asian and the other Jewish; both were hospitalized in stable condition. Authorities say there is no known connection between Morales and either victim or between the two victims, and investigators are also considering mental health factors. A bystander who tailed Morales helped officers locate him. City leaders condemned the attacks and urged vigilance to protect vulnerable communities. The incidents come amid broader concerns about rising hate crimes against Jewish and Asian communities.