Man Faces Federal Hate Crime Charges for New York City Synagogue Attack
Larry Montes, 46, has been charged with federal hate crimes following an alleged "violent, hate-motivated attack" at Central Synagogue in Manhattan. Montes was arrested on Friday after disrupting Shabbat services, where he allegedly yelled "I am Hashem" (a Jewish reference to God), knocked over candles, and caused them to break. As security escorted him out, he reportedly struck a 63-year-old woman, causing a cut lip and bruised arm, and headbutted a security guard while uttering a racial slur. Previously, Montes faced state-level criminal mischief and attempted assault hate crime charges. The federal complaint, filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, includes two counts of committing hate crimes and one count of damage to religious property resulting in injury. Montes is currently held on $10,000 bail.