Manhattan Man Accused of Attacking Two Men in Alleged Antisemitic Hate Crime

Raul Morales, 51, is facing criminal charges after prosecutors accused him of attacking two men in separate incidents on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on July 23, 2026.

According to prosecutors, one of the alleged victims was a 57-year-old Asian man who was stabbed in the back. The knife reportedly remained embedded in his body, leaving him in need of emergency surgery.

In a separate incident, Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus, 50, was allegedly attacked near a synagogue. Prosecutors said Grunhaus, who is Jewish and was wearing a kippah at the time, was stabbed with a screwdriver and suffered serious injuries.

The case took another significant turn during court proceedings when prosecutors revealed that Morales’s phone allegedly contained antisemitic messages sent before the attacks.

Prosecutors allege that antisemitism was a motivating factor behind the incidents and are pursuing the case as a hate crime.

The allegations have raised concerns about whether the attacks were targeted because of the victims’ perceived identities. Investigators and prosecutors are expected to rely on the alleged messages, circumstances of the attacks and other evidence as the case moves through court.

Morales has pleaded not guilty to the charges. As a result, the allegations against him have not been proven, and he remains presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty in court.

A judge has ordered Morales to remain held without bail while the criminal proceedings continue.

The attacks have left the alleged victims and their families dealing with serious physical and emotional consequences, while the prosecution seeks to establish whether Morales’s alleged communications and actions demonstrate a hate-based motive.

The case remains ongoing, and further court proceedings are expected to determine how the allegations will proceed and whether prosecutors can establish the alleged antisemitic motive beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: NY Post