New York City Attack Forces Mamdani To Respond

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is under fire as crime has reached a critical point in New York City. The latest criticism involves his slow response to an antisemitic attack after Raul Morales screamed, “Allahu Akbar,” before stabbing two people.

Will the new mayor – who spent this week railing against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and threatening to arrest him – finally be held accountable for his inciting rhetoric?

As reported by Fox News:

A suspect is in custody after allegedly yelling “Allahu Akbar” while stabbing two men in what officials are describing as an apparent antisemitic attack in Manhattan’s Upper West Side Thursday afternoon.

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) said one of the victims is Jewish and that witnesses reported hearing the suspect yell “Allahu Akbar” during both assaults, which took place near West 84th Street and Central Park West, a large Jewish community.

Investigators are evaluating whether the reported attacks should be classified as a hate crime and identified the suspect as Raul Morales, 51, in both assaults.

According to the NYPD, the victims were stabbed in what appeared to be two separate attacks that happened near one another.

A 57-year-old man was reportedly attacked near West 84th Street and Central Park West just after 1:30 p.m.

Officials said officers found him conscious and alert with a stab wound to his back. He was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

Investigators later found a 50-year-old man nearby with a stab wound to his torso. He was also conscious and alert and was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

Initial NYPD findings suggest mental health may have been a factor.

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

WABC reported that police are investigating whether the suspect used a knife or a screwdriver during the alleged attacks.

Hours after the attack, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who recently called on the federal government to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said he had been briefed on what he described as “horrifying stabbings” and noted the victims were an Asian man and a Jewish man.

Mayor Mamdani took to X with his response to the horrific attack, of course, not acknowledging that his own hateful rhetoric may have helped to influence it:

I have been briefed on today’s horrifying stabbings on the Upper West Side, where an Asian man and a Jewish man were attacked. According to witness and victim statements, the perpetrator yelled “Allahu Akbar” during both attacks. I am relieved that both victims are in stable condition.

The NYPD responded immediately and arrested Raul Morales in connection with both assaults—and I am grateful to the officers for their swift response.

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.

Once again, here we are reporting about another antisemitic attack that happened on the streets of New York City. This comes after days and days of Mayor Mamdani calling for the arrest of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This hateful attack occurred on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, an area, it’s worth noting, with a large Jewish population.

Of course, this assault happened to take place on a Jewish holiday, Tish’a B’Ava – a day of mourning for the destruction of the First and Second temples in Jerusalem.

Here’s the problem. When the mayor uses rhetoric all week about going after Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him the architect of genocide and a war criminal, and then says, We looked into it, and sadly we can’t legally arrest him, that can still be perceived as marching orders. 

New York is the second most populated Jewish area in the world. This mayor needs to protect New York’s Jewish citizens, as well as everyone else. No excuses.

Today’s Sekulow broadcast included more discussion of this despicable attack in New York and the mayor’s response. We also discussed President Trump’s scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House next week.

Watch the full broadcast below: