![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cdd939fc7870e489e229d448a495916e64-Central-Synagogue.rsquare.w400.jpg\")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n Central Synagogue is seen on February 28, 2026, in New York.
\n Photo: Kena Betancur\/AP Photo\n <\/p>\n
New details have emerged about the Bronx man responsible for a violent disruption of Shabbat services at a midtown synagogue that left two people injured Friday night.<\/p>\n
The NYPD arrested 46-year-old Larry Montes shortly after he stormed Manhattan\u2019s historic Central Synagogue and disrupted its evening services. Prosecutors alleged during his Saturday night arraignment that Montes charged at the synagogue\u2019s rabbi, verbally claimed that he was \u201cGod,\u201d and called the congregants \u201cfake Jews,\u201d per CBS News<\/a>, which obtained transcripts from the Manhattan district attorney\u2019s office. Montes reportedly told law enforcement after his arrest that he held animus toward both Jewish people and Black people, according to the New York Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n As Montes was being escorted out by synagogue security, according to initial police accounts<\/a>, he struck a congregant and spit at and headbutted a member of the security team, at whom he yelled a racial slur. The Post reported that he also threw and subsequently broke two candles and candleholders with a reported value of $10,000 each. Montes was then taken into custody by an NYPD sergeant who was already on scene working a paid detail for the synagogue. The New York Times<\/a> reports that the congregant Montes struck, a 63-year-old woman, was left with a cut on her face, and the 65-year-old security guard was dealing with both swelling and pain from the suspect\u2019s attack.<\/p>\n NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch<\/a> confirmed that Montes was charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime as well as additional counts related to the incident. In a statement Friday, Tisch condemned the attack while acknowledging her own personal connection to the storied synagogue. \u201cI understand the sanctity of this space and its meaning for congregants. Central 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 she said.<\/p>\n Mayor Zohran Mamdani<\/a> also condemned the attack on the synagogue Friday, saying he was \u201chorrified\u201d by what occurred. \u201cEvery New Yorker must be able to observe their religion without fear of violence. This despicable act has no place in our city, and our administration will do everything in our power to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe,\u201d Mamdani said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Additional reports have painted a picture of a disturbed man who was previously known to police. A police official told CNN<\/a> that Montes has a history of mental-health struggles and has numerous sealed arrests, including ones for robberies. The Post<\/a> spoke to Myriam Montes, the suspect\u2019s aunt, who said her nephew was troubled and claimed he actually intended to convert to Judaism. \u201cHe\u2019s mentally traumatized because of his desire to belong to that religion [Judaism] \u2014 that\u2019s what he\u2019s said. Given what happened, he might not have been in his right mind; he\u2019s mentally traumatized,\u201d she told the outlet, noting that she hadn\u2019t spoken to Montes in three months.<\/p>\n She continued, \u201cI told him he had to be careful with that because those things are sacred \u2014 you have to approach them seriously. He wanted to keep studying because it seemed like he had a dream he was pursuing.\u201d<\/p>\n The Forward <\/a>reports that Montes\u2019s social-media account featured numerous posts on Judaism as well as Israel in the weeks leading up to the attack, including one image with an outline of Israel with a caption that read, \u201cKeep Israel in your heart.\u201d Montes also reshared a negative video against Mamdani that compared the mayor to Iranian leaders.<\/p>\n New York City has seen a recent uptick in antisemitic hate crimes. Earlier this month, NYPD officials reported<\/a> that the number of anti-Jewish hate crimes had risen by 8.5 percent during the first seven months of the year compared to that same period last year, despite an overall drop in other categories of major crimes.<\/p>\n Sign Up for the Intelligencer\u00a0Newsletter<\/p>\n Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world.<\/p>\n Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice<\/p>\n