Man Arrested and Charged with Hate Crimes After Disrupting Synagogue Service in Manhattan

A 46-year-old man from the Bronx was arrested and charged with hate crimes after disrupting a Shabbat service at Central Synagogue in Manhattan on August 16, 2026. Larry Montes faces two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, according to New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch. During the incident, Montes struck a member of the congregation, damaged property, and assaulted a security team member while being escorted out. An NYPD sergeant on duty at the synagogue intervened and took him into custody. Tisch expressed relief that no serious injuries occurred, noting that those hurt were evaluated at the scene. Additional police resources have been deployed to the synagogue as the investigation continues. New York officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul, condemned the attack, emphasizing their commitment to combating antisemitism. Ofir Akunis, the consul general of Israel in New York, criticized Mayor Mamdani, claiming that his rhetoric has contributed to rising antisemitism and called for more decisive action.