A Bronx man has been charged with multiple hate crimes for allegedly disrupting Shabbat services at a Manhattan synagogue, assaulting a congregant, and attacking a member of the security team, according to authorities.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch identified the suspect as Larry Montes, 46. He faces charges including two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime. The incident occurred Friday at Central Synagogue on Lexington Avenue.
"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 a statement. An NYPD sergeant working security at the synagogue intervened and took Montes into custody.
No one was seriously injured in the incident, and those affected were evaluated at the scene. Tisch stated that additional NYPD resources have been deployed to the synagogue and that there are no known additional threats.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, whose office provided the additional context, called the incident "despicable" and stated that "Every New Yorker must be able to observe their religion without fear of violence." He affirmed that his administration would "do everything in our power to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe."
Tisch noted the incident was personally significant as she grew up attending Central Synagogue. "A place of worship should never be a crime scene," she said. The incident remains under investigation.