New York police are investigating two separate stabbings on Manhattan’s Upper West Side as possible hate crimes after an Asian man and a Jewish man were attacked in broad daylight. A 51-year-old man, Raul Morales, was arrested, and investigators are still determining his motive; the case matters because it has raised concerns about violence targeting minority communities.

The attacks occurred roughly two blocks apart, and both victims were taken to hospital in stable condition. Police said witnesses reported the suspect shouting an Arabic religious phrase during both incidents, while Commissioner Jessica Tisch said an initial inquiry also suggested mental health may have been a factor. City data show hate crimes have risen in recent years, with Jewish people accounting for more than half of confirmed cases so far this year, according to Tisch.