Additional Coverage:
Federal prosecutors have filed hate crime charges against a Bronx man accused of attacking a security guard and a congregant at a Manhattan synagogue in a racially motivated incident last week.
Larry Montes was arrested following the alleged assault at Central Synagogue last Friday and initially charged by New York State authorities. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice added federal charges, including two counts of committing hate crimes, each carrying up to 10 years in prison, and one count of damaging religious property resulting in bodily injury, which carries a potential 20-year sentence.
“These charges underscore the Department of Justice’s commitment to intervening in antisemitic and racially motivated attacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division.
According to court documents, Montes was attending Shabbat services with approximately 375 other congregants when he suddenly began shouting and struck two ceremonial silver candlesticks, causing damage. When a security guard attempted to remove him, Montes reportedly used profane language directed at attendees and physically assaulted a woman.
After being handcuffed, Montes allegedly directed racial slurs at a Black security guard, followed by spitting and head-butting the officer. In a subsequent interview, Montes reportedly made antisemitic remarks.
The incident comes amid a troubling rise in hate crimes in New York City; as of July, 360 hate crime incidents had been reported, with 205 motivated by anti-Jewish bias, according to city data.