Police say 51-year-old Raul Morales was taken into custody Thursday after two men were attacked within minutes of each other in the neighborhood.
According to investigators, the first attack happened around 1:30 p.m. near Central Park West and West 84th Street, where a 57-year-old Asian man was stabbed in the back. A short time later, police say a 50-year-old Jewish man was stabbed near West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, close to a synagogue.
NYPD looking into stabbings near Central Park as potential hate crime
The attacks rattled residents and members of the community, particularly because the second stabbing occurred near a house of worship. One synagogue member described the violence as frightening, saying it was especially unsettling to learn that someone associated with a synagogue he has attended for years was targeted.
In a statement posted on social media, Mayor Mamdani said the NYPD's initial investigation suggests mental health may have been a factor in the attacks, while condemning what he called "hateful and despicable" acts of violence.
Both victims were taken to a local hospital and are expected to recover, according to police. Investigators say the suspect allegedly used a blade and a screwdriver during the attacks.
Jewish leaders and elected officials are scheduled to hold a news conference Friday morning to address the incidents and renew calls for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office to prosecute the case as a hate crime. Charges against Raul Morales were pending as of early Friday.
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