Man Attacks Worshipper at Manhattan Central Synagogue, Arrested for Hate Crimes

A 46-year-old man from the Bronx disrupted a Friday evening prayer service at Manhattan's historic Central Synagogue on Lexington Avenue near East 55th Street shortly after 6 p.m. Larry Montes behaved aggressively, shouting and screaming during the service. Security personnel attempted to remove him, during which he assaulted a 63-year-old female worshipper, causing a minor lip cut and injury to her right arm. He also spat on a 65-year-old security guard and struck him on the head, causing property damage inside the synagogue.

New York Police Department officers, including an on-site officer assigned to synagogue security, intervened immediately and arrested Montes. The injured parties received treatment at the scene and are in stable condition with no serious injuries reported. The prayer service resumed after the arrest. Montes faces charges including two counts of assault as hate crimes and one count of property damage as a hate crime.

Jessica Tisch, head of the NYPD and a synagogue childhood attendee, expressed sorrow over the incident, emphasizing the synagogue's significance as a place of comfort and peace. She confirmed no further threats are known and additional police forces have been deployed. Mayor Zoran Mamdani condemned the attack, highlighting the right of all New Yorkers to practice their religion without fear of violence.

Witnesses described the event as frightening, with one woman calling Montes "full of hate" and another initially mistaking the noise for gunfire before security responded swiftly. Central Synagogue is one of New York's largest and oldest Reform synagogues and a designated National Historic Landmark. This attack adds to growing concerns about rising antisemitic incidents in the city. The investigation by the NYPD's hate crimes unit is ongoing, and Montes remains in custody.