Police say a man stabbed two other men—an East Asian and an Orthodox Jewish—near New York’s Central Park on Thursday, prompting a hate crime investigation.
The victims, identified as Chok Sung, 57, and Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus, 50, were attacked in separate incidents just blocks apart near Central Park. Police said Grunhaus had just left a Jewish center after attending Tisha B’Av services, while Sung was attacked nearby minutes later.
Both men were taken to the hospital and are expected to recover.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said witnesses and the victims reported that the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Raul Morales, shouted “Allahu Akbar” during both attacks. Morales was taken into custody, and investigators are working to determine whether the stabbings should be prosecuted as hate crimes. Officials also said they are looking into whether mental health played a role.
In a statement, Jewish Federations condemned what it described as violence targeting “our and other minority communities” and urged Congress to strengthen protections for vulnerable groups.
“Our nation must invest in security programs that help protect vulnerable communities and prevent future attacks,” the organization said. “As we pray for the safety and recovery of Chok Sung and Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus, Congress must act.”
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani also condemned the stabbings, calling them “hateful and despicable attacks” that have no place in New York City.