Overview
- Police say a man disrupted Shabbat services at Central Synagogue on Friday night and, while being escorted out, struck a 63-year-old congregant, damaged property, and spat at and headbutted a security team member.
- An NYPD sergeant who was working a paid detail detained the suspect at the scene and the Hate Crime Task Force has joined the investigation.
- The suspect was identified by police as 46-year-old Larry Montes of the Bronx and has been charged with multiple counts including assault and criminal mischief as hate crimes.
- Those hurt were evaluated at the scene and suffered only minor injuries, services resumed the next day with visibly increased police protection, and no further threats were reported.
- Officials and Jewish leaders publicly condemned the attack and placed it in the context of a recent rise in reported anti-Jewish incidents in New York while investigators continue to probe motive.