"He dreams of converting": The antisemite who attacked a New York synagogue turns out to be a supporter of Israel
Larry Montes, 46, from the Bronx, is accused of attacking worshippers and vandalizing a Manhattan synagogue. Despite his antisemitic outbursts during the incident, his aunt claims he suffers from severe mental illness and has an obsession with Judaism.
The incident that took place last Friday at the Central Synagogue in Manhattan initially appeared to be another shocking antisemitic attack. Larry Montes, a 46-year-old Bronx resident, broke into the synagogue at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 55th Street East during the Kabbalat Shabbat prayer, causing destruction and terrorizing those present.
According to police, Montes punched a 63-year-old woman, headbutted and spat on a 65-year-old security guard who tried to intervene, and smashed two valuable religious candlesticks estimated at $20,000. Sources in the New York Police Department reported that the attacker was highly agitated and shouted antisemitic slurs after his arrest. He has been charged with multiple counts of assault and criminal mischief as hate crimes.
However, a report in the "New York Post" reveals a bizarre twist: the attacker's aunt claims her nephew dreams of becoming Jewish. Miriam Montes, who lives in Puerto Rico, stated that her nephew is mentally unstable. "I feel terrible about what happened. He had issues related to religion, but he shouldn't have acted that way," she said. "He suffers from mental trauma due to his intense desire to belong to the Jewish faith. It is possible he was not of sound mind."
Miriam added that his obsession with Judaism had intensified following a childhood trauma involving the loss of his mother during childbirth. Montes' Facebook account reflects this, as it is filled with posts supporting Israel and Judaism. One photo shows hands wrapped in Puerto Rican and Israeli flags reaching out to each other for peace, while another explicitly states: "Keep Israel in your hearts." He also frequently shared videos criticizing anti-Israel political figures.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated she had spoken with the synagogue's rabbi and promised to reinforce security around religious institutions in the city. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had previously faced criticism for his response to antisemitism, strongly condemned the incident: "We reject this with all our souls. New York is a city where every resident should be safe, and Jews must be able to go to the synagogue without fearing for their lives."
It turns out that Montes is well-known to police for his history of mental instability and criminal behavior. In 2023, he threatened a 'Best Buy' employee with a knife, and in 2019, he brutally assaulted a 'CVS' worker during a shoplifting attempt. "I think his brain is not okay, and he just needs proper psychological treatment," his aunt concluded.
