New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced criticism Thursday after waiting several hours before publicly addressing a suspected antisemitic stabbing attack on the Upper West Side that left two men injured, authorities said.
According to police and witness statements, the suspect was arrested shortly after allegedly attacking a 57-year-old man near West 84th Street and Central Park West just after 1:30 p.m. Investigators later found another victim, a 50-year-old man, nearby with a stab wound to his torso. Both men were conscious and alert when taken to local hospitals in stable condition.
Raul Morales was apprehended by the New York City Police Department in connection with both assaults, officials confirmed. According to witness and victim statements, the suspect yelled 'Allahu Akbar' during both attacks. Authorities have not yet identified a motive or said whether the incidents are being investigated as hate crimes.
Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on what caused the delay in issuing a public statement about the attack.
What the Left Is Saying
Julie Menin, speaker of the New York City Council, expressed concern about the incident while calling for thorough investigation. 'While we await additional details to be confirmed, we know that what is happening in our city is abhorrent. The fear in the Jewish community is real. Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, regardless of their faith or identity,' Menin wrote on X.
In his eventual statement, Mamdani said he had been briefed on the attack and praised law enforcement's response. 'The NYPD responded immediately and arrested Raul Morales in connection with both assaults — and I am grateful to the officers for their swift response,' he wrote.
Progressive allies of the mayor have noted that Mamdani did eventually address the incident and that condemning violence against any community should not be politicized. The mayor's office has emphasized his commitment to protecting all New Yorkers regardless of background.
What the Right Is Saying
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul condemned the attack as part of a broader pattern of violence targeting Jewish residents. 'Disgusted by what appears to be another senseless attack on New Yorkers simply because they're Jewish,' Hochul wrote on X. 'Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, regardless of their faith or identity.'
Councilwoman Inna Vernikov placed blame directly on the mayor's administration. 'According to credible reports I received, the attacker was yelling 'Allahu Akbar' during his attempted murder. I pray for the speedy recovery of the victims. [Mamdani,] you got blood on your hands,' she wrote.
Republican lawmakers in New York have pointed to Mamdani's past criticism of Israel as contributing to what they describe as reluctance to condemn antisemitic attacks forcefully. One GOP legislator described the mayor's antisemitism response office as a 'black hole' lacking public-facing resources, suggesting the administration has not adequately prepared to address hate crimes against Jewish residents.
What the Numbers Show
In the first quarter of 2026, the New York Police Department received 146 hate crime complaints and made 71 arrests, according to police data. That represents an increase from 137 complaints and 51 arrests during the same period in 2025, reflecting a year-over-year rise in reported incidents.
The Upper West Side has seen multiple antisemitic incidents in recent years, according to community leaders who track hate crimes against Jewish residents in the neighborhood. NYPD officials have said they are monitoring areas with high concentrations of Orthodox Jewish populations for increased patrols.
Mamdani's housing tax initiative, which he posted about approximately two and a half hours after the attack occurred, targets second homes valued above $5 million under what the administration calls its pied-à-terre tax proposal.
The Bottom Line
The incident has renewed scrutiny of how quickly New York City's mayor responds to crimes affecting Jewish communities specifically. Mamdani's delayed public statement drew criticism from officials across party lines, with some arguing his progressive positions on Israel create political complications when addressing antisemitic violence domestically.
Both victims are recovering in stable condition, and the suspect remains in custody as police continue their investigation into whether hate crime charges will apply. The case is expected to be reviewed by prosecutors once detectives finalize their findings on motive.
What happens next: City Council oversight hearings on the mayor's response protocols for hate crimes have not yet been scheduled but are anticipated given the high-profile nature of this incident and ongoing concerns about antisemitic violence in New York City.