NYC witnessed two what-could-be-hate-motivated stabbings on Thursday afternoon.

In two separate incidents, two men, an Asian man and a Jewish man, were stabbed on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

The first attack took place shortly before 1:30 p.m. near West 84th Street and Central Park West. A 57-year-old man was stabbed in the torso. About minutes later, a 50-year-old man was attacked near West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, close to a local church and synagogue.

Police arrested a suspect, identified as Raul Morales, shortly after the attacks. Bystanders and victims have testified that he yelled the slogan “Allahu Akbar” before the attacks. The NYPD is currently investigating whether the stabbings were motivated by a hate crime.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that one of the victims was initially in critical condition. However, the victims are doing better, and both are now expected to survive.

“The NYPD has arrested 51-year-old Raul Morales in connection with both assaults, and no other people are being sought. Detectives are continuing to work the case and determine motive, but according to victim and witness statements, Morales yelled “Allahu Akbar” during both attacks. The NYPD is currently evaluating whether this is a potential hate crime,” Tisch said in her statement. 

“While the perpetrator has no known mental health history with the NYPD, the initial investigation suggests that mental health may have been a factor.”

“At this time there is no known link between Morales and either of the victims, nor between the victims and each other.”

“I want to commend the bravery of a good Samaritan who led our officers to the location where the perpetrator was hiding, as well as our NYPD cops who brought an end to the incident without further injuries,” she added. 

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani lauded the NYPD for taking prompt action. “The NYPD’s initial investigation suggests that mental health may have been a factor. They are also evaluating these stabbings as potential hate crimes. These hateful and despicable attacks have no place in our city,” he said. 

After the statements were released, netizens criticized Tisch and Mamdani for labeling it as a hate crime, despite the attacker screaming an Islamic phrase. 

“…51 years of zero mental health history and all of a sudden he stabs 2 people on a Jewish holiday that Mamdani dog-whistled about yesterday, and he stabs a man on his way to synagogue on a fast day but your speculation is that it has nothing to do with anti-semitism but just mental health,” said one netizen on X. 

“It’s called radical Islamic terrorism. Don’t feel bad; Obama had trouble saying it too,” said another. 

A separate comment read, “Islamic terrorism is the problem. Having an antisemitic mayor like yourself only adds fuel to the fire. This has nothing to do with mental health.”

Disclaimer: Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available.