Bronx man faces multiple charges after unruly disruption of Shabbat service in Manhattan
Aug 14, 2026
A woman suffered an attack while at a Shabbat service at Central Synagogue in Manhattan. According to the New York City Police Department, the incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime.
The aftermath was captured on video through Citizen App, which shows the moment police escorted
a man out of the synagogue in handcuffs on Friday.
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the suspect interrupted the worship service, and while being escorted out by synagogue security, he struck a member of the congregation, damaged synagogue property and spit at and headbutted a member of security.
Law enforcement sources tell News 4 that a 63-year-old woman was punched in the face and is expected to be OK.
Tisch addressed the investigation on social media on Friday.
“What happened there tonight is deeply painful,” she wrote. “A place of worship should never be a crime scene.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also commented on the incident.
“This despicable act has no place in our city, and our administration will do everything in our power to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe.”
Just after 11 p.m., Tisch identified the suspect as 46-year-old Larry Montes, a Bronx resident.
Montes faces multiple charges, including two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime.
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