A Bronx man faces federal hate crime charges for what prosecutors called the religious- and race-based assaults of a congregant and a security guard during Shabbat services at a Manhattan synagogue. The criminal complaint filed Tuesday charged Larry Montes with two counts of committing a hate cri me and a charge of damage to religious property resulting in bodily injury in connection to the disturbance caused Friday night at Central Synagogue in Midtown East. The 46-year-old was said to have stood up during the service and smashed two ceremonial candlesticks, and then started shouting. When security went to remove him, he allegedly shouted profanities at the guards and congregants, including a racial slur at a Black security guard, whom Montes headbutted and spit in his face. The criminal complaint states he also punched a woman who attended the service. Police said an off-duty NYPD sergeant who happened to be working a paid detail at the synagogue took Montes into custody. While being removed, Montes vowed to return to the synagogue another day. After he was arrested and advised of his Miranda rights, Montes allegedly stated, “f— the Jews…It’s racial” and “I will never affiliate with no filthy f—–g synagogues, either here or in fucking Israel.” Montes said of his actions at the synagogue, “it’s all a racial thing” and that it was “all religious motivated,” according to prosecutors with the Southern District of New York. The NYPD and FBI led the investigation. Attorney information for Montes was not immediately available. “An attack on a house of worship is an attack on the fundamental right to practice one’s faith safely, and our Office will work tirelessly to ensure the defendant is held fully accountable as we continue to protect all communities from hate driven violence,” U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald said in a statement. “I am grateful that an NYPD sergeant was there to take him into custody, and for the ongoing efforts of our Hate Crimes Task Force and our federal partners to hold Montes accountable for his alleged crimes,” added NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The NYPD recorded 360 hate crimes since the start of August, police said. Of those, 205 targeted Jewish people. Mayor Zohran Mamdani commented on the Central Synagogue attack Saturday morning and condemned anti-Semitism and hate crimes across the five boroughs. Montes will appear in court at a later date. If convicted on all three counts, he could face decades in prison. ...read more read less