Jewish watchdog urges NYPD to increase officers in hot spots after synagogue attack

Following a Friday night attack at Manhattan's Central Synagogue, the Community Security Initiative (CSI), a Jewish security watchdog, is urging the NYPD to increase officer presence in potential hate crime hot spots. Larry Montes, 46, disrupted a service with antisemitic slurs, struck a 63-year-old congregant, and headbutted a security guard before being apprehended. CSI CEO Mitchell Silber noted that Montes did not initially raise red flags upon entry, but the synagogue's trained security team quickly defused the situation. The CSI is also advising synagogues to enhance safety measures and is discussing with the NYPD the use of "datamining, crime cluster mapping and pre-emptively deploying against hot spots" to prevent future incidents. Montes faces multiple charges, including assault as a hate crime, with bail set at $10,000 cash and $30,000 bond. This incident occurs amid an 8.5% rise in antisemitic hate crimes in NYC compared to the previous year.