A man accused of attacking a woman and a security guard at a New York City synagogue during Shabbat services has been charged with federal hate crimes, prosecutors said. The incident occurred at Central Synagogue in Manhattan.
Larry Montes faces two counts of hate crimes and one count of damage to religious property resulting in bodily injury in Manhattan federal court. He had previously been charged with similar state-level offenses.
According to prosecutors, Montes struck a 63-year-old woman, spat on and head-butted a security guard, and damaged synagogue property. The attack took place after 6 p.m. as Shabbat services were beginning. The woman suffered a cut lip and a forearm injury.
The assault was visible on a livestream of the service. The video shows a man yelling as a security guard tries to restrain him. The criminal complaint states that Montes stood up about nine minutes into the service, shouting, "You know who the fuck I am!" He then went to the stage and knocked over two ceremonial silver candlesticks, bending their bases.
When the head of security attempted to remove him, Montes allegedly used profanity and racial slurs. After his arrest, he made anti-Semitic remarks, saying "fuck the Jews … it's racial" and "I will never affiliate with no filthy fucking synagogues."
Prosecutors said Montes admitted to feeling disrespected during the service and to "smacking somebody around." He attributed his actions to racial and religious motivations.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald stated: "An attack on a house of worship is an attack on the fundamental right to practice one's faith safely, and our Office will work tirelessly to ensure the defendant is held fully accountable." NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch added: "As alleged, Larry Montes brought violence to Jewish New Yorkers engaged in prayer. I am grateful that an NYPD sergeant was there to take him into custody."