New York man charged with hate crime after synagogue attack during Shabbat service
A 46-year-old man has been charged with hate crimes after attacking an attendee and a security guard while disrupting a livestreamed Shabbat service at Central Synagogue in Manhattan. City and state leaders condemned the incident.
New York police arrested and charged 46-year-old Larry Montes on Saturday after he disrupted a Shabbat service at Central Synagogue on Manhattan's Lexington Avenue. He faces two counts of assault as a hate crime, one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, and additional charges.
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the incident began just after 6pm when security staff attempted to remove Montes from the building. During this process, he allegedly struck a 63-year-old woman, damaged synagogue property, and spit at and head-butted a security team member. The woman sustained a small cut to her lip and an injury to her right forearm. A police sergeant stationed at the synagogue intervened immediately and took Montes into custody.
A livestream of the service captured the tense scene, showing a man shouting as a security guard tried to restrain and remove him. Tisch said no additional suspects were being sought and described the episode as deeply painful, noting her personal connection to the synagogue, where she grew up.
The NYPD's hate crime taskforce is investigating the case. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the attack, saying every New Yorker must be able to practice their religion without fear and pledging to protect Jewish residents. He added there was no known ongoing threat near the synagogue.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul called the allegations appalling, affirming that Jewish New Yorkers have the right to worship openly and without fear. Central Synagogue said it would continue holding weekly gatherings for its community.
