Arrest and Charges
A New York City man is facing hate crime charges after police say he assaulted a woman and a security team member while disrupting Shabbat services at Central Synagogue in Manhattan, with the incident captured on a live stream. The New York Police Department identified the suspect as Larry Montes, 46, who was arrested and charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime, one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, and other alleged violations, according to police. Federal prosecutors have also stated that Montes "stormed into the sanctuary, shouted antisemitic slurs, vandalized property, struck a 63-year-old woman in the face, and headbutted a security guard," and he now faces federal hate crime charges.
The incident unfolded just after 6pm on Saturday during services at Central Synagogue on Lexington Avenue. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said security was attempting to remove Montes when he struck a 63-year-old woman, damaged synagogue property, and spit at and head-butted a member of the security team. The woman suffered a small laceration to her lip and an injury to her right forearm. An NYPD sergeant assigned to the synagogue immediately intervened and took Montes into custody, Tisch said. A live stream showed a man shouting as a security guard tried to restrain him and remove him from the building.
Tisch said there were no additional suspects being sought. The NYPD's hate crime taskforce is investigating the case.
Official Response
In a post on X, Tisch wrote, "I 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."
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the attack, writing on X, "Every 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," and adding that there was "no known ongoing threat in or around the synagogue."
Governor Kathy Hochul called the allegations "appalling" and wrote, "Jewish New Yorkers have every right to worship openly, proudly, and without fear." Central Synagogue issued a statement pledging to "keep on gathering for joyful, meaningful Judaism with our … family every week."
Community Rally
Following the attack, the nonprofit advocacy organization Impact held a "This Shall Not Stand" rally in Midtown Manhattan, bringing together members of the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Hindu communities to stand against antisemitism and hate. The rally took place on Wednesday, August 20, 2026, according to a report from The Jerusalem Post.
Impact CEO and co-founder Aaron Herman said in a statement to The Jerusalem Post, the message "was simple: An attack on a synagogue or any house of worship is an attack on all of us. This shall not stand."
Daniel Rosen, president of Impact, spoke to the broader implications of the violence, telling CBS News New York, "It's not just about this synagogue. It's about all synagogues. It's not just about this act of violence. It's about the string of violence that has been happening across the city and really across the country." He added, "The message is that it's up to me and it's up to you. It's up to all of us. And you don't have to be Jewish to care about people being attacked." Rosen emphasized that community defense must be organized and persistent: "Gone are the days when on a Monday a Jew is stabbed, on a Tuesday is spat upon, on a Wednesday a synagogue is vandalized. Gone are those days. We have decided to stand up."
Carin Bail of Impact said that if communities united across all faiths, hate wouldn't be tolerated anywhere. Atia Shahnaz, founder of the Pakistani American Skilled Woman Organization, said, "an attack on a synagogue, we feel attack on our mosque."
Divergent Views at Rally
Several speakers at the rally criticized city leadership, with some placing blame on Mayor Mamdani. Lizzy Savetsky said "we need to be entering our unapologetic era" and called for self-defense and exercising Second Amendment rights. New York State Assemblyman David Weprin said, "It's not a partisan issue. It has nothing to do with Democrats or Republicans or political activity. It has to do with Jews speaking out." Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican and Conservative nominee for New York governor, criticized city leadership and said, "We have to fight antisemitism. We have to fight the attack on American values. We have to fight against anti-Christianity."
Rabbi Avi Weiss of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale told the rally, "Mr Mamdani, J'accuse! When will you understand that your vile video has put a target on the face of, the sides of every synagogue and every house of worship." Rabbi Binyamin Krauss of SAR Academy in Riverdale said, "Use your power. Speak the right words. Don't speak words that encourage others to walk into a synagogue to attack us."
Statistics
The Jerusalem Post reported NYPD data indicating that anti-Jewish hate crimes have risen by 8.5% compared to the previous year and accounted for more than 56% of all hate crimes citywide, even though Jewish residents make up roughly 10% of New York City's population.