Manhattan district attorney announces hate crime charges against alleged Central Synagogue attacker

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced hate crime charges against Larry Montes, 46, for allegedly disrupting Shabbat services at Central Synagogue on August 14. Montes pleaded not guilty to charges including two counts of hate crime second-degree criminal mischief and one count each of hate crime second-degree attempted assault, hate crime third-degree assault, and second-degree criminal interference with religious worship. According to court watcher Serena Smulansky, Montes allegedly declared himself "Hashem," damaged over $7,000 worth of candlesticks, punched a woman, and spat on a security guard while using a racial slur. Bragg stated, "Places of worship should be safe havens, not scenes of violence and hate."

• Bragg also attended the arraignment for Raul Morales, 51, who pleaded not guilty to charges including four counts of attempted second-degree murder as a hate crime for allegedly stabbing two men near Upper West Side synagogues on July 23.
• Investigators found antisemitic text messages on Morales's phone, and he allegedly yelled "Allahu akbar" during one attack and "Justice for Islam" while passing a synagogue.
• Smulansky noted Bragg's presence at both proceedings, interpreting it as a potential increase in interest in the Jewish community's well-being.