NEW YORK — A man disrupted Shabbat services and attacked a guard and a congregant at Central Synagogue in Manhattan on Friday night.

As synagogue security escorted the man out of the service, he struck a congregant and damaged synagogue property, then spit at and headbutted a member of the security team, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement.

Tisch is Jewish, attended Central Synagogue growing up and was married there.

A police officer working security at the Reform synagogue took the assailant into custody.

The NYPD identified the suspect as Larry Montes, 46, from the Bronx.

Police charged Montes with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, among other charges.

Extra police have been dispatched to the synagogue.

Tisch said she spoke with the synagogue rabbi, that no one was seriously injured, and there were no known additional threats.

The synagogue’s chief rabbi, Angela Buchdahl, is a national leader in the US Jewish community.

“I understand the sanctity of this space and its meaning for congregants. Central Synagogue is where I grew up,” Tisch said.

“In joy and in sorrow, it has always been a place of comfort and peace. What happened there tonight is deeply painful. A place of worship........

© The Times of Israel