Two Men Stabbed in Alleged Antisemitic Attack Near Central Park

Two men were hospitalized after a stabbing incident near Central Park on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Thursday afternoon. The New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed this to Newsweek and stated that a person of interest is in custody.

The New York-based Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation highlighted on social media that the victims were visibly Jewish. The men, aged 57 and 50, sustained stab wounds to their torsos and were discovered near West 84th Street and Central Park West around 1:31 p.m. Both were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital for treatment.

An eyewitness report by CBS News’ Anna Schecter on X noted that one of the men was wearing a kippah. Following the incident, the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation urged authorities to launch a swift and comprehensive investigation and enhance security for Jewish neighborhoods and institutions, stressing the importance of safety and freedom from fear for all Americans.

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin described the attack as an “antisemitic stabbing.” Menin expressed her outrage on X, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation and the real fear within the Jewish community. She called for unity in condemning antisemitism and holding offenders accountable. Menin thanked the NYPD for their prompt action in capturing the assailant, extending her thoughts to the victims and their families.

The incident coincided with Tisha B’Av, a significant day of fasting and mourning in the Jewish calendar. Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, co-chair of NYC’s Bipartisan Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, shared reports alleging that the attacker shouted, “Allahu Akbar,” an Arabic phrase meaning “God is the greatest” or “God is greater.” Vernikov mentioned that a screwdriver was used in the attack. Newsweek has reached out to City Hall for further comments.