Overview
- Last Friday a 46‑year‑old Bronx man, identified by police as Larry Montes, ran into a Shabbat service at Central Synagogue, shouted antisemitic slurs and physically assaulted a congregant and a Black security guard.
- Montes was arrested at the scene and faces state charges including assault and aggravated harassment and federal hate‑crime counts that federal prosecutors say could carry decades in prison.
- So far Montes has pleaded not guilty to the state charges and remains in custody while the federal case is pending and investigators from the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force and the FBI continue to coordinate the probe.
- NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, a lifelong member of Central Synagogue, told worshippers she would direct counterterrorism and hate‑crime resources to protect Jewish institutions and to reassure congregants.
- City officials pointed to rising antisemitic incidents — including an 8.5% year‑to‑date rise and a sharp month‑to‑month increase reported for July — and said the attack has prompted stepped‑up security at synagogues and broader interfaith solidarity.