Two men, one of whom was visibly Jewish, were stabbed outside an Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Manhattan on Thursday.
Eyewitnesses allege that the suspect shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the incident, the Anti-Defamation League said in a post on X/Twitter.
The police reported that a man, 57, was stabbed in the back by the suspect, and that a second man, 50, was stabbed in the chest.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that 51-year-old Raul Morales had been arrested in connection with both attacks and that "no other people are being sought," in a post to X early Friday morning.
She added that that one of the victims is Asian, and the other is Jewish, and that NYPD is working to determine whether the incident was a hate crime.
However, she said that initial investigations suggested that the attacker's mental health "may have been a factor."
"At this time there is no known link between Morales and either of the victims, nor between the victims and each other," she said.
American politicians responded to Manhattan attack
"I have been briefed on today’s horrifying stabbings on the Upper West Side, where an Asian man and a Jewish man were attacked," New York Mayor, Zohran Mamdani said in a post on X.
"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’s initial investigation suggests that mental health may have been a factor. They are also evaluating these stabbings as potential hate crimes," he added.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also responded to the attack in a post on X, saying she was "Disgusted by what appears to be another senseless attack on New Yorkers simply because they’re Jewish."
"The strength of New York has always been our ability to live together across every faith and background," she said.
Hochul added that "Our hearts are also with the second victim. Asian New Yorkers, like Jewish New Yorkers, have endured waves of hate-fueled violence in recent years. Hate rarely stops with one group."
Israeli officials reacted to stabbings
Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, held New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani responsible for the attack in Manhattan.
In a post on X, Danon said "Zohran Mamdani, your incitement is putting Jewish lives in danger in New York, home to the largest Jewish community outside Israel."
"You have spent months fueling hatred, demonizing Israel and legitimizing hostility toward Jews. Now take responsibility for the consequences," he added.
"Stop the incitement. Before more people get hurt."