A New York City man is facing hate crime charges after police say he assaulted a woman and a security team member while disrupting Shabbat services at Central Synagogue in Manhattan – all in plain view of a live stream.
The New York police department identified the suspect in the case as Larry Montes, 46, who was arrested after the episode at the synagogue. Montes was charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, along with other alleged violations, police said.
The incident unfolded just after 6pm on Saturday as services were getting under way at Central Synagogue, located on New York City’s busy Lexington Avenue.
According to the NYPD commissioner, Jessica Tisch, security was attempting to remove Montes from the synagogue when he struck a 63-year-old woman, damaged synagogue property, and spit at and head-butted a member of the security team. Police said the woman suffered a small laceration to her lip and an injury to her right forearm.
An NYPD sergeant assigned to the synagogue immediately intervened and took Montes into police custody, Tisch said.
A live stream of the service captured the tense moments inside the synagogue. It showed a man shouting as a security guard tried to restrain him and remove him from the building.
Tisch said there were no additional suspects being sought.
“I understand the sanctity of this space and its meaning for congregants,” Tisch wrote on X on Saturday evening. “Central Synagogue is where I grew up.
“In joy and in sorrow, it has always been a place of comfort and peace. What happened there tonight is deeply painful. A place of worship should never be a crime scene.”
The NYPD’s hate crime taskforce is investigating the case.
New York City’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, condemned the attack, writing on X: “Every New Yorker must be able to observe their religion without fear of violence. This despicable act has no place in our city, and our administration will do everything in our power to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe.”
Mamdani added that there was “no known ongoing threat in or around the synagogue”.
New York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, also responded to the allegations against Montes, calling them “appalling” on X and writing: “Jewish New Yorkers have every right to worship openly, proudly, and without fear.”
A statement from Central Synagogue pledged to “keep on gathering for joyful, meaningful Judaism with our … family every week”.
