A New York City man, Larry Montes, 46, has been charged with hate crimes after police said he assaulted a woman and a security team member during Shabbat services at Central Synagogue in Manhattan. The incident, which unfolded just after 6pm on Saturday, was reportedly captured on a live stream.
Mr Montes was charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, along with other alleged violations, according to police. The New York police department identified him as the suspect and he was arrested at the synagogue.
According to NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch, security was attempting to remove Mr Montes when he allegedly struck a 63-year-old woman, damaged synagogue property, and spit at and head-butted a member of the security team. Police said the woman suffered a small laceration to her lip and an injury to her right forearm. An NYPD sergeant assigned to the synagogue intervened and took Mr Montes into custody.
The NYPD’s hate crime taskforce is investigating the case. New York City’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, and New York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, both condemned the alleged attack.