Man yelling ‘Allahu Akbar’ stabs 2 near Central Park in NYC

Two men, one Asian and the other Jewish, were stabbed in separate attacks on New York City’s Upper West Side by an attacker who yelled “Allahu Akbar,” according to police. Both victims are expected to survive.

The first stabbing happened at about 1:30 p.m. on Thursday near West 84th Street and Central Park West, where a 57-year-old man was stabbed in the torso.

A 50-year-old man was stabbed a short time later near West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, close to a church and a synagogue, according to WABC.

Both men were taken to Mt. Sinai-St. Luke’s Hospital. One was initially listed in critical condition, but Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said both are now expected to survive.

Police arrested 51-year-old Raul Morales in connection with both attacks. No other suspects are being sought.

According to Tisch, statements from the victims and witnesses indicate that Morales yelled “Allahu Akbar” during both attacks. Detectives are still working to determine a motive and are evaluating whether the stabbings constitute a hate crime.

There is no known link between Morales and either victim, or between the victims themselves. Tisch said the initial investigation suggests mental health may have been a factor, although Morales has no known mental health history with the New York Police Department (NYPD).

After the attacks, Morales fled into an apartment building on Amsterdam Avenue between West 88th and 89th streets and barricaded himself inside an apartment, according to WCBS. A good Samaritan directed officers to where he was hiding.

Officers with the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit negotiated with Morales before taking him into custody at about 2:45 p.m. A weapon was recovered near West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.