By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-09-08 19:16:31 | Updated at 2026-09-08 20:22:05
1 hour ago
The hateful lunatic who stabbed a Jewish and Asian man on the Upper West Side sent antisemitic texts before the attacks — which left one victim with a knife sticking in his back, prosecutors revealed Tuesday.
Raul Morales, 51, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder as a hate crime at his Manhattan Supreme Court arraignment for the July 23 “unprovoked” attacks that left two men badly injured.
Since his arrest, investigators uncovered evidence showing he holds anti-Jewish views, according to prosecutors.
“A search warrant on the defendant’s phone revealed text messages containing antisemitic statements,” Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Megan Joy told Justice Althea Drysdale.
Morales allegedly yelled “Allahu Akbar” before creeping behind a 57-year-old Asian man and plunging a knife into his back on West 84th Street and Central Park West around 1:30 p.m.
“The first victim was taken to the hospital with the knife still lodged in his back, and more specifically, into the bone of his spine, causing serious injury and danger,” Joy told the court.
“He underwent specialty surgery to remove the knife.”
Minutes later, Morales passed the Jewish Center and ranted “Allahu Akbar” and “Justice for Islam” before allegedly stabbing Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus, 50, a kippah-wearing Jewish man, in the back with a screwdriver as he emerged from the synagogue.
The nut then fled to his NYCHA apartment a few blocks away, where a good Samaritan trailed him and alerted police, according to prosecutors.
After a 50 minute standoff with cops, Morales changed clothes and surrendered to police, Joy said.
Grunhaus suffered from a collapsed lung, and both victims have trouble breathing to this day, according to prosecutors.
About a dozen Grunhaus supporters filled the courtroom on Tuesday.
“Although he’s brave and still stoic, the trauma has to be terrible,” Sheldon Fine, who visited Grunhaus in the hospital, told reporters.
The judge held Morales, a former drug parolee and Brooklyn security guard, without bail at his arraignment.
The stabbings came as antisemitic attacks continued to rise across the Big Apple.
“Raul Morales was allegedly motivated by antisemitism when he attacked two New Yorkers in broad daylight near two Upper West Side synagogues,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
“Since the initial arrest, my Office has continued to thoroughly investigate this matter and uncovered additional evidence alleging the defendant harbors antisemitic views,” he continued.
“This case is a prime example of how hate crimes make all of us less safe.”
