On Aug. 14, 2026, a man disrupted Shabbat services at Central Synagogue in Manhattan. The incident, captured on a live stream, showed him shouting while a security guard attempted to restrain him, prompting congregants to exclaim, "We thought it was a gun." Susan Roane and Arlynn Greenbaum reported that the intruder was "full of hate" and was later seized by a sérstaklega paid NYPD sergeant.

Police identified the man as Larry Montes, 46, who struck a 63-year-old woman as she was being escorted out. Montes also spat at and headbutted a security guard and damaged synagogue property. The assault left the woman with a small laceration to her lip and a bruise on her forearm.

Montes faces two counts of assault as a hate crime, one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, and additional charges. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned the attack, stating it was a "despicable act" that has no place in New York City. Mayor Zohran Mamdani added that the city will do everything possible to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe.

The zaka, 14th‑day event, has no ongoing threat and additional NYPD resources remain on standby.