A man stormed a live Shabbat service at Central Synagogue and was charged with hate crimes after striking congregants and shouting slurs, according to police and prosecutors.
Story Snapshot
- Police charged a Bronx man with multiple hate crimes after a synagogue attack during Shabbat.
- Reports say he struck a 63-year-old woman and fought with security while yelling anti-Jewish slurs.
- A city livestream captured parts of the disruption as worshippers looked on.
- Authorities pushed the hate-crime narrative quickly, while one report says targeting evidence is still developing.
What Police Say Happened Inside Central Synagogue
New York City Police Department officials said officers arrested 46-year-old Larry Montes after he disrupted Friday night Shabbat services at Central Synagogue in Midtown Manhattan and injured congregants. Police and local reports state he struck a 63-year-old woman, damaged property, and clashed with security staff during the incident. The New York City Police Department Commissioner posted that Montes faces two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, among other charges.
Video from the synagogue’s livestream shows a man yelling before a security guard restrains him, which lines up with the timeline given by officials and witnesses in early reports. ABC7 and other outlets reported that the disruption happened at 652 Lexington Avenue, the synagogue’s address, during active services, which raised concern about safety at houses of worship in a busy part of the city. Police took Montes into custody soon after the confrontation ended.
The Alleged Anti-Jewish Language and the Hate-Crime Charges
Prosecutors said in court that Montes used anti-Jewish slurs during the attack and called congregants “swine” and “fake Jews,” statements reported by the New York Post based on the prosecution’s account. CNN likewise reported that a law enforcement source said the suspect yelled a slur at a security guard while attacking him. Those claims, if proven, would support the hate-crime counts that city officials announced publicly soon after the arrest.
At the same time, a law enforcement source told CNN that investigators did not yet have evidence that Montes targeted a specific person inside the synagogue, even as bias charges were filed. That detail does not erase the reported slurs, but it shows the legal standard is still being built as the case moves forward. The New York Times initially said a motive had not been determined, which reflects how fast early narratives can outpace formal proof.
Public Safety, Due Process, and a Community on Edge
City leaders often speak fast after attacks on religious sites to calm fears and show action, and that happened here with quick hate-crime announcements on social media by police and the mayor. Rapid framing can send a strong message against antisemitism, yet it can also lock in a story before all evidence is public. That tension is common in hate-crime cases, where intent must be proven in court, not just asserted in posts or press briefings.
National data adds context. Federal Bureau of Investigation reporting and advocacy tallies show Jews make up the largest share of religion-based hate-crime victims in recent years, even as total hate incidents fluctuate year to year. This pattern explains why attacks in synagogues trigger urgent responses from police and faith leaders. The public needs both: quick protection and careful, fair prosecutions that match the facts shown in videos, witness statements, and courtroom records.
Sources:
nypost.com, abc7ny.com, nytimes.com, ktvz.com, x.com, yahoo.com, cnn.com, cbsnews.com, cdn.fedweb.org, fbi.gov
