Manhattan Stabbing Suspect Indicted on Hate Crime Charges

Raul Morales, a 51‑year‑old man, was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on multiple hate‑crime counts, including two counts of second‑degree attempted murder, for stabbing an Asian man and a Jewish man on the Upper West Side on July 23. Prosecutors said Morales shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he approached the 57‑year‑old Asian victim on West 84th Street, stabbing him in the back with a knife, and later attacked Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus, 50, who had just left a synagogue, stabbing him in the chest with a screwdriver while shouting “Justice for Islam.” Both victims survived and were hospitalized. Morales was arrested within an hour at his apartment, is being held on Rikers Island, and is scheduled for arraignment on September 22 in Manhattan Supreme Court. During his court appearance, he made an unexpected outburst, telling the crowd “I love you, mama,” before being led on a perp walk.

The indictment also includes assault and attempted‑assault charges with hate‑crime enhancements. If convicted of the top charges, Morales faces up to 40 years in prison.