A 46-year-old man struck a woman and headbutted a security guard after disrupting Shabbat service at a Midtown synagogue Friday evening in what the NYPD is investigating as a hate crime, cops said.<\/p>\n
The suspect was being escorted out of Central Synagogue<\/a> on Lexington Ave. at E. 55th St. when he struck the 63-year-old woman around 6:10 p.m., according to law enforcement.<\/p>\n He then headbutted and spit on the 65-year-old guard<\/a> and damaged synagogue property, including candle holders, before an NYPD sergeant working a paid detail at the Jewish house of worship took him into custody, according to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.<\/p>\n The assault is being investigated by the NYPD\u2019s Hate Crime Task Force. Charges remained pending Friday night.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand the sanctity of this space and its meaning for congregants,\u201d Tisch said in a statement on X. \u201cCentral Synagogue is where I grew up. In joy and in sorrow, it has always been a place of comfort and peace. What happened there tonight is deeply painful. A place of worship should never be a crime scene.\u201d<\/p>\n Before the assaults, the man was heard shouting, \u201cNobody here is real!\u201d and \u201cDo you know who I am?\u201d during the synagogue\u2019s Shabbat service, cops said.<\/p>\n