A 51-year-old man, identified as Raul Morales, was apprehended by police on Thursday afternoon after allegedly stabbing two men outside an Orthodox synagogue near Central Park in New York City. The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. when Morales allegedly stabbed a 57-year-old man in the torso and then struck a 50-year-old man.
Both victims, described as an unidentified Asian man and a Jewish man, were transported to Mt. Sinai-St. Luke's Hospital and are expected to survive, according to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Morales was taken into custody at an apartment building a few blocks from the scene.
Tisch stated that detectives are working to determine a motive for the attack. According to witness and victim statements, Morales yelled "Allahu Akbar" during both assaults. The New York Police Department is investigating whether the incident constitutes a hate crime. At this time, investigators have not found a link between Morales and the victims, or between the victims themselves. Mental health may also be a factor in the attack, Tisch added.
Members of the NYPD Crime Scene Unit were observed investigating the scene on Thursday.