A 46-year-old Bronx man is facing hate crime charges after allegedly disrupting Shabbat services at Central Synagogue in Manhattan and assaulting two people while being removed from the building Friday night.
Police said the incident happened during a livestreamed religious service and involved an attack on a congregant and a member of the synagogue’s security team. No one suffered serious injuries, and an NYPD sergeant assigned to the synagogue quickly took the suspect into custody.
Suspect Faces Multiple Hate Crime Charges
Police identified the suspect as Larry Montes, 46, of the Bronx. According to New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Montes allegedly became involved in a disturbance during the service before synagogue security attempted to escort him outside.
During the removal, police said he struck a member of the congregation, damaged property inside the synagogue, and then spit at and head-butted a security team member.
Montes faces two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, along with additional charges related to the incident.
Officials Condemn Attack During Shabbat Service
The incident prompted strong reactions from city and state officials. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the assault as horrifying and said New Yorkers should be able to practice their faith without fear of violence.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer were among the officials who also condemned the incident.
Additional police security was deployed at the synagogue following the attack. Despite the disruption, Shabbat services continued on Saturday.
Synagogue Community Continues Services
Rabbi Rebecca Thau addressed congregants as the community gathered again, acknowledging the emotional difficulty of returning to worship after the incident.
The attack has also renewed concerns about security at Jewish houses of worship in New York City. Authorities have said there is no indication of an additional threat connected to the incident.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack and the hate crime allegations against Montes.
