Man charged with hate crimes in New York
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York, United States, has charged 51-year-old Raul Morales on several counts, including second-degree attempted murder as a hate crime. The indictment was announced following an investigation into two daytime attacks that took place on July 23 on the Upper West Side near synagogues, The Jerusalem Post reports.
Two attacks near synagogues
According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Morales allegedly approached a 57-year-old man from behind near the intersection of West 84th Street and Central Park West and stabbed him in the back. Prosecutors said that during the attack, he shouted “Allahu Akbar” and other statements.
Minutes later, near another synagogue close to West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, Morales allegedly attacked a 50-year-old Jewish man wearing a kippah and stabbed him in the chest with a screwdriver. Both victims were taken to hospital. The first victim underwent emergency surgery to remove the knife that remained in his back.
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The investigation and police position
Police tracked Morales to a nearby apartment, where he eventually surrendered. After obtaining warrants, law enforcement officers examined his phone and, according to prosecutors, found text messages containing overtly antisemitic statements.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said that the defendant was likely motivated by antisemitism when he attacked two New York residents near synagogues. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that law enforcement officers quickly identified the suspect and took him into custody the same day.
Morales also faces charges of first-degree assault as a hate crime, attempted first-degree assault as a hate crime, and second-degree assault as a hate crime.
