Man accused of New York City synagogue attack faces federal hate crime charges

Federal officials called it a "violent, hate‑motivated attack."

A man who is accused of disrupting Friday evening services at a New York City synagogue now faces federal hate crime charges in what officials called a "violent, hate‑motivated attack."

Larry Montes, 46, was arrested Friday following what police called a "random antisemitic attack" at Central Synagogue in Manhattan and previously faced state-level criminal mischief and attempted assault hate crime charges.

In a federal complaint filed Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, the Bronx man was charged with two counts of committing hate crimes and one count of damage to religious property resulting in injury.

Montes allegedly stood up during the service and approached the front yelling, "I am Hashem," a Jewish reference to God, according to police. He allegedly knocked over two candles and candle holders, causing them to break, police said.

While being escorted out of the synagogue by security, Montes allegedly struck a 63-year-old woman who was attending the services, cutting her lip and bruising her arm, and headbutted a security guard and uttered a racial slur, according to police.

When questioned by NYPD officers following his arrest after being advised of his Miranda rights, Montes allegedly said he felt disrespected at the service and stated that "it’s all a racial thing" and it was "all religious motivated," according to the federal complaint.

"Larry Montes' targeted acts of violence on a congregant, security guard, and synagogue during a Shabbat service are deeply disturbing," Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's New York Field Office James Barnacle Jr. said in a statement. "The FBI condemns any incident driven by bias or hate, and we commend the swift actions of the security personnel and first responders. Hate crimes have no place in New York, and we remain steadfast in protecting every community."

Montes is being held on $10,000 bail following an appearance on a complaint drafted by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. It was not immediately clear when he would appear before a federal magistrate on the federal complaint.

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