New York police have charged a 46-year-old man with a string of offences, including hate crime counts, after he ran down the aisle of Central Synagogue in Midtown Manhattan during a Friday evening Sabbath service and assaulted two worshippers, authorities said.
Attack in sanctuary
The suspect, identified by police as Larry Montes, is accused of punching a 63-year-old woman and headbutting a 65-year-old security guard as he was being removed from the congregation at about 6:10pm. The incident was captured on a livestream of the service and has been widely circulated.
Witnesses told officers that during the outburst Montes shouted and ranted as he moved through the central aisle towards the bimah, the raised platform from which the Torah is read. A video of the episode shows two women performing music who then flee to safety as the man proceeds up the aisle and later is escorted back down by a security guard while continuing to gesture and shout.
"A place of worship should never be a crime scene," Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said on social media, describing the assault as "deeply painful."
Charges and alleged damage
Police say the defendant also damaged synagogue property during the disturbance, including an ornate Shabbat candle holder valued at $20,000. He faces a range of counts, which authorities listed as including hate crime assault and criminal mischief characterised as a hate crime, as well as charges for disrupting a religious service and various harassment offences. His arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court was pending on Saturday.
| Alleged conduct | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Physical assaults | Punching of a 63-year-old woman; headbutt to a 65-year-old security guard |
| Property damage | Destruction of an ornate Shabbat candle holder valued at $20,000 |
| Criminal charges | Hate crime assault, criminal mischief as hate crime, disruption of religious service, harassment, aggravated harassment |
Context and wider concern
The NYPD noted the attack comes amid a broader uptick in antisemitic incidents in the city, reporting an 8% increase in such crimes this year. Police and community leaders have warned in recent months about threats to Jewish institutions and the safety of worshippers.
Montes, according to officials, lives in Mott Haven in the Bronx — more than six miles from the synagogue on Lexington Avenue at East 55th Street — and it was not immediately clear why he was present at the service. Authorities have not released information about a motive beyond the hate crime allegation; under the law, a hate crime charge indicates prosecutors believe the defendant acted because of the victims' perceived religion.
- Two people were directly attacked during the incident.
- Religious property of significant value was damaged.
- The case is being handled as part of a pattern of rising antisemitic offences in the city this year.
Senior police officials moved quickly to condemn the incident and to reassure congregants and the public that places of worship must remain safe. The allegations against the accused will be decided in court; prosecutors must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the assault was motivated by bias for the hate crime charges to be upheld.
Legal proceedings were at an early stage on Saturday, with an arraignment pending in Manhattan Criminal Court. Police statements and the available video are likely to be central to the case, while community groups and synagogue leadership consider security and support for those affected.
As investigators pursue the matter, the incident has renewed attention to how religious communities are protected and how law enforcement classifies and responds to bias-motivated violence. City officials said they would continue to monitor and respond to threats to civic and religious life, while ensuring the next steps in the criminal justice process proceed in accordance with the law.
