Public Safety & Justice Active Updated Aug 20, 2026
The wave of antisemitic attacks
New York has seen a string of hate-motivated attacks on Jewish New Yorkers this year, from swastikas spray-painted in Brooklyn and Queens in January to a hate-crime stabbing on the Upper West Side in late July to a man storming Central Synagogue's Shabbat service and striking a congregant. Each incident has drawn promises from the mayor, police commissioner and Council speaker that it will not happen again, testing whether the city's response goes beyond statements.
The story so far
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Aug 20, 2026 Latest
Jewish New Yorkers and interfaith allies rallied in Midtown five days after Larry Montes stormed Central Synagogue's Shabbat service, with Rabbi Avi Weiss telling Mayor Mamdani his rhetoric has put a target on synagogues. The NYPD said antisemitic incidents made up 56% of the city's hate crimes in the year's first seven months, up 8.5%.
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Aug 19, 2026
Federal prosecutors charged Larry Montes, who stormed Central Synagogue's Shabbat service and headbutted a security guard, with hate crimes carrying up to 40 years. The NYPD said it has logged 360 hate crimes citywide since Aug. 1, with 205 targeting Jewish New Yorkers.
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Aug 18, 2026
The NYPD said it has logged 360 hate crimes citywide since Aug. 1, with more than half targeting Jewish New Yorkers, as Mayor Mamdani condemned the Central Synagogue assault.
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Aug 16, 2026
Larry Montes, 46, stormed Central Synagogue on Lexington Avenue during Friday night Shabbat services, struck a 63-year-old congregant in the face and headbutted a member of the security team, allegedly calling worshippers 'swine' and 'fake Jews.' He faces 14 charges including four counts of assault as a hate crime, and Judge Janice Chen set bail at $10,000 cash or a $30,000 bond, below the $50,000 cash prosecutors sought.
Gothamist 
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