A 46-year-old Bronx man was promptly arrested and charged with hate crimes after he disrupted a Shabbat service at a Manhattan synagogue and hit two people.
Larry Montes faces two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, among other charges, New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said late Friday. The incident unfolded at Central Synagogue in New York City that night.
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“As synagogue security was escorting him out, he struck a member of the congregation, damaged synagogue property, and then spit at and headbutted a member of the security team,” Tisch said in an earlier statement. “An NYPD sergeant working a paid detail at the synagogue immediately stepped in and took the individual into custody.”
“I have spoken with the rabbi of the synagogue, and I’m relieved that no one was seriously injured,” she added. “Those who were hurt were evaluated at the scene and are doing well. There are no known additional threats at this time, and additional NYPD resources have been deployed to the synagogue. The investigation is ongoing.”
Other officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY), swiftly denounced the antisemitic attack.
“Our administration will always stand against bigotry in all its forms. We will use every tool at our disposal to confront antisemitism and keep Jewish New Yorkers — and all New Yorkers — safe,” Mamdani posted.
“What happened at Central Synagogue tonight is appalling,” Hochul wrote. “Jewish New Yorkers have every right to worship openly, proudly, and without fear.”
Following the incident, police officers were deployed to the synagogue for security as Shabbat services continued into Saturday.
Though Mamdani has condemned antisemitism, his rhetoric on Israel and its leaders has been politically charged. Ofir Akunis, the consul general of Israel in New York, blamed the mayor for the city’s latest antisemitic incident.
“The attack at Manhattan’s Central Synagogue is a direct result of Mayor Mamdani’s sustained campaign of incitement. I warned that words would turn into actions, and that is exactly what is happening,” Akunis said. “Mamdani has failed to protect New York’s Jews. It is not enough to issue lukewarm condemnations. Action is needed.”
