2 Men Stabbed Near Central Park

A suspect is accused of stabbing two men in separate attacks near Central Park on Thursday afternoon, and New York City police are weighing whether to treat the case as a hate crime, NBC News reports. Police say Raul Morales, 51, is in custody after attacks about two blocks apart along Central Park West around 1:30pm. Both victims—one Asian, one Jewish—are hospitalized in stable condition and are expected to survive.

Commissioner Jessica Tisch said witnesses reported Morales shouted "Allahu Akbar" during both stabbings, and that early findings suggest mental health may have played a role. The phrase means "God is the greatest" in Arabic, the New York Post reports. Police believe a blade and a screwdriver were used in the attacks, ABC 7 reports. Authorities say there's no sign the victims knew each other or the suspect. A bystander helped officers locate Morales. City and state leaders condemned the attacks while stressing New York's diversity and resilience.