Jewish watchdog urges NYPD to increase officers in hot spots after synagogue attack
In the incident on Friday night, Montes yelled during the service, disrupting it, and then struck a 63-year-old congregant and headbutted a member of security personnel who was escorting him out.
A Jewish security watchdog, the Community Security Initiative (CSI), is urging the NYPD to increase police presence in areas deemed "hot spots" for potential hate crimes following a recent synagogue attack. The CSI CEO, Mitchell Silber, acknowledged the challenge of balancing public access for worship with synagogue security, stating, "It's difficult, because you're trying to balance being open for the public for worship, and at the same time, keeping our sanctuary safe."
On Friday night, 46-year-old Larry Montes entered Central Synagogue's main sanctuary, disrupted the service with antisemitic slurs, and was subdued by a security guard. Despite Montes having no red flags initially, CSI representatives claim the synagogue's training enabled quick de-escalation. The CSI is now disseminating a bulletin to synagogues nationwide, recommending enhanced safety measures, including datamining, crime cluster mapping, and pre-emptively deploying officers to hot spots.
The bulletin also encourages synagogues to collaborate with the Community Security Service, a Jewish nonprofit that trains congregants to spot potential threats. Central Synagogue's senior rabbi, Angela Buchdahl, was absent during the incident, but her Instagram post praised the security director for swiftly restraining Montes. Montes, with a history of three prior arrests for robbery, was charged with four counts of assault as a hate crime, among other offenses.
His bail was set at $10,000 cash with $30,000 bond, with the next court date scheduled for August 20.
The attack occurred amidst a rise in antisemitic hate crimes in New York City, which increased by 8.5% in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year. Some politicians, including New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, have condemned the incident, while others have politicized the mayor's rhetoric as a contributing factor. Montes' social media activity reveals a complex history, including support for Israel and criticism of political figures.
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