A woman recently opened up about the emotional turmoil she faced after stepping away from her marriage. She revealed with surprise and heartache that her husband made no attempt to reach out, search for her whereabouts, or even contact her family.
After leaving her husband and children behind, she was taken aback by her husband’s apparent lack of concern. His indifference as if her absence was of no consequence, left her puzzled.
In moments of reflection, she found herself questioning the nature of her marriage. Was she truly married to a confidant, or had her partner turned adversarial? Her husband’s silence regarding her wellbeing left her grappling with these thoughts.
Woman reflects on husband’s reaction
This experience prompted her to deeply consider their relationship dynamics, as she struggled to understand why her husband showed no signs of missing her once she had gone.
Despite these revelations, she admitted that her husband had always been a kind man and a dedicated father, consistently striving to provide for both her and their children.
The woman said, “I left my marriage and my husband did not bother to come look for me.”
She added, “He has not asked after me. He has not even called me to ask where I am or if I’m fine.”
The experience prompted her to question what a husband’s failure to search for his wife could mean about their relationship.
Lady urges women to ask difficult questions
She further stated, “I’m going to ask every woman, when you left your marriage and your husband didn’t look for you did you ask yourself some pertinent questions like why didn’t he look for you?”
The woman also questioned why her husband did not miss her, suggesting that women should examine their own conduct when faced with such a reaction.
Her story has raised a wider conversation about marriage, emotional attachment and how couples respond when one partner leaves the home.
While she described her husband as a good man and father, her experience has left her reflecting on the emotional state of their marriage and what his silence could mean.
Watch the video below…
“I left my marriage, left my kids with my husband & for weeks now he didn’t even bother to call or check on me. He went ahead to get nanny for the kids” 🤣 pic.twitter.com/ZbOW4hIImo
— DON “Tobechukwu” Ade 👑 (@Row_Haastrup) August 14, 2026
Hugh Hefner Exposed Jeffrey Epstein’s Crimes to the FBI
In a startling revelation, late Playboy tycoon Hugh Hefner was reported to have alerted the FBI regarding Jeffrey Epstein after learning of grievous allegations involving the disgraced financier from a Playmate who accused him of sexual assault and trafficking.
As per the New York Post, Audra Lynn Christiansen, who graced the magazine’s pages as a Playmate in 2003, sought shelter at the Playboy Mansion. Claiming that Epstein had sexually assaulted her and ensnared her into a trafficking ring catering to elites, she implored Hefner for assistance.
In 2005, Christiansen urged Hefner to leverage his powerful status and network to report her ordeal to the authorities, hoping this influence might lend gravity to her alarming claims.
The allegations maintain that Hefner responded by contacting the FBI multiple times on behalf of Christiansen to relay information about Epstein, as highlighted in the New York Post’s coverage of the situation.
These revelations emerge from an amended complaint filed this May in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, shedding light on the deep and troubling connections intertwined within this tragic narrative.
The lawsuit, brought by Epstein victims, accuses the FBI of failing to act on multiple reports of his sexual abuse dating back to 1996.
Late Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner allegedly called the FBI to report convicted sex offender after a Playmate told him that she’d been raped and trafficked by the disgraced fancier
Audra Lynn Christiansen, a 2003 Playmate, was living with Hefner at the Playboy Mansion when she turned to him for help, claiming that she had been raped by Epstein
Christiansen, now 46, claims that she didn’t hear back from the FBI until October 2020 – fifteen years after Hefner, who died in 2017, had called them.
She reportedly told FBI agents that she’d been introduced to Epstein after her 2003 Playboy shoot was released.
Christiansen also briefly appeared on E!’s The Girls Next Door reality show and had a minor part in the 2007 spoof film Epic Movie.
The allegations are detailed in a new lawsuit which was first reported by Miami Herald journalist Julie K. Brown, who shared it on her Substack blog.
The Daily Mail has contacted Playboy for comment.
Epstein killed himself inside of his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City at the age of 66 in August 2019.
At the time of his death, he had pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking minors and conspiracy, and was awaiting trial when he died.
His suicide fueled public speculation that he was assassinated as part of a cover-up to protect high-profile individuals who were potentially complicit in his crimes.
Christiansen is pictured with fellow Playmate Michele Rogers at a Playboy pool party
From that, a theory emerged that the well-connected financier maintained a list of clients to whom underage girls were trafficked.
Aside from his longtime associate and former lover Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to serve 20 years behind bars in June 2022 for her role in luring underage girls for Epstein, there have been no US arrests relating to the financier.
Hefner was also accused of rape, although all the allegations against him came out after he died in 2017 at age 91.
Many women who previously dated and worked with the late magazine editor detailed alleged encounters with him and made numerous explosive accusations as part of the A&E docuseries Secrets of Playboy in 2022.
Throughout the series, multiple women accused Hefner of sexual assault, bestiality, and other sexual misconduct.
Christiansen reportedly told FBI agents that she’d been introduced to Epstein after her 2003 Playboy shoot was released before being raped and trafficked to his wealthy friends
However, others later defended the Playboy mogul, including actress and former Playmate Jenny McCarthy.
McCarthy – who first modeled for Playboy in 1993 and moved into the mansion soon after – recalled the house being run like a ‘strict dormitory.’
‘We weren’t even allowed near Hef or around the house. It was almost like Catholic school, to be honest,’ she said on Zack Peter’s No Filter.
She explained that when she lived in the mansion, Hefner was married to Playmate Kimberley Conrad, who was his main focus
‘I’m so grateful that when I was there, Hef was married,’ she said.
‘I think I went in there in a window of time that was kind of safe. There were no orgies or big parties going on. But hearing some of these girls’ stories was really rough. Hearing their stories, my heart broke for a lot of these women.’
Jeanine Pirro’s Future in Trump’s Eyes After Dropped Charges Against Reflecting Pool Vandal
In a swirl of speculation, Donald Trump continues to weigh his options over the future of US Attorney for Washington D.C., Jeanine Pirro, a figure long considered a staunch ally.
Tensions flared after a meeting on Monday, during which the former President criticized Pirro. Trump expressed dissatisfaction with her office’s decision to drop charges against David Hearn, an Olympic athlete accused of defacing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Trump colorfully remarked that Pirro “folded like an umbrella” under pressure.
Amid these developments, Trump addressed the issue at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday night. As he prepared to embark on Air Force One, he shed light on Pirro’s standing.
When pressed directly on Pirro’s job security, Trump admitted, “I haven’t made a determination,” leaving her fate hanging in the balance.
He continued, stating, “I told her I was not happy,” underscoring his dissatisfaction with recent prosecutorial decisions within her jurisdiction.
Trump continued to insist on Tuesday night that the pool had been vandalized and defended the contractors.
‘I just think she was totally wrong. They did a beautiful job, there were a couple of little things but that was not a big deal and everybody saw the vandalism, all you have to do is look at the tape,’ he said.
‘Plus, we have a witness or two witnesses that saw the vandalism, so certainly there was vandalism. In my opinion, it was major vandalism.’
Donald Trump said he hasn’t decided yet whether to fire longtime ally and US Attorney for Washington DC Jeanine Pirro
The President met with Pirro (pictured) after saying that she ‘choked’ and ‘folded like an umbrella’ when lawyers in her office dismissed charges against US Olympian David Hearn, accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
The President appeared to be livid with Pirro after lawyers in her office dismissed charges against Hearn.
‘I was disappointed with Jeanine Pirro, really disappointed with Jeanine Pirro,’ Trump said angrily to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday.
‘She folded like an umbrella, and people get away with things, and it’s a disgrace.’
Pirro, a former judge and district attorney, joined Fox News in 2006 before she was appointed by Trump as the US Attorney for Washington, DC in May 2025.
‘Frankly, I think she choked,’ Trump said, adding: ‘I don’t know what the hell happened.’
Pirro was spotted by reporters entering the West Wing on Monday evening, presumably to meet the president.
The President was personally involved with the $16 million renovation of the pool as part of his goal to beautify Washington, DC ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.
After the high-profile and speedy renovation, portions of the liner detached from the bottom of the pool and floated toward the surface in June, sparking public mockery of Trump’s project.
Pirro’s office moved to dismiss the charges of federal vandalism against Hearn after he was spotted reaching into the water of the reflecting pool to examine a piece of detached reflecting pool liner in June.
The President appeared to still be livid with Pirro after lawyers in her office dismissed charges against US Olympian David Hearn, accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
David Hearn (pictured), the former Olympian accused of vandalizing Trump’s restored Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, had his charges dismissed
US Park Police arrested Hearn, and he was subsequently indicted on a single felony count of property destruction. Hearn pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The court filing released Friday cited new evidence in the case that ‘undermines the evidentiary basis for the indictment’ and dismissed the case.
The filing revealed that new documents indicated that the damage to the pool ‘was the result of a botched installation and not vandalism as initially represented’ by the Interior Department.
‘Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt,’ the filing states.
The Justice Department knew or should have known for weeks that its case against a former Olympian charged with intentionally damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was flawed, and that he bore no responsibility for longstanding problems at the landmark, defense lawyers said Tuesday.
Lawyers for Hearn on Tuesday urged a judge to permanently dismiss the case and foreclose the possibility that the Trump administration could revive it.
They took issue with Pirro’s assertion that prosecutors only recently learned about the pre-existing defects at the pool, saying the government had ‘disregarded readily available evidence’ that the liner was already failing because of installation flaws.
‘From the outset, the evidence showed that the pool liner was already failing and that Mr. Hearn did not cause the damage alleged in the indictment,” Hearn’s legal team argued in a 28-page motion filed Tuesday in D.C. Superior Court.
Investigations showed the damage was the result of a ‘flawed installation by the contractor.’ Hearn shared this photo he took of the pool’s peeling lining with the Daily Mail
Hearn claimed that the Trump administration was trying to build a false narrative that issues with the Reflecting Pool were due to vandalism. Workers are pictured cleaning the pool
The poor condition of the pool was ‘plainly visible’ for weeks and was publicly documented through photographs, video and news reports, the lawyers wrote.
‘Defying both decency and common sense, the government proceeded to indict Mr. Hearn before it had obtained or evaluated the information necessary to establish a good-faith basis for the charge,’ the defense attorneys wrote.
In addition, they say, the government’s key eyewitness was never presented to the grand jury, and a key prosecution witness on the question of damages ‘stated that the repairs at issue would have been necessary regardless of Mr. Hearn’s alleged conduct and could not identify any additional cost caused by Mr. Hearn.’
The contractor, Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings, ‘publicly acknowledged, before Mr. Hearn was indicted, that portions of the project required repair,’ the lawyers said.
The firm was awarded a $14.7 million no-bid contract to repaint and waterproof the pool’s concrete floor.
Hearn pleaded not guilty last month to one felony count of property destruction and had a trial scheduled to start September 28 in DC Superior Court before the case was dismissed.
He was facing a maximum prison sentence of 10 years if convicted, as he was accused of causing at least $1,000 in damage to the pool.
Trump appointed the former Fox host to her role in his administration last year after his initial pick, Ed Martin, could not be confirmed because of Republican senator holdouts.
Pirro’s tenure has been plagued with failures to prosecute the president’s political opponents, despite his adamant attempts to do so. She was unable to indict former Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell for alleged wasteful spending.
The former Fox host was also unable to secure indictments against six Democratic lawmakers who had posted a video reminding US military personnel of their obligation to refuse illegal orders.
And prosecutors under her watch likewise failed to indict vocal Trump critic New York Attorney General Letitia James for alleged bank fraud and alleged false statements regarding a property purchase.
Indonesia Issues Urgent Tsunami Warning Following Massive 7.7 Earthquake Prompting Widespread Evacuations
An intense earthquake, measuring 7.7 in magnitude, jolted the seas near Flores Island in eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, sending waves of panic among locals as officials swiftly issued a tsunami warning.
In the Nagekeo Regency, the region closest to where the tremors originated, residents desperately sought higher ground as they watched the ocean recede—a potential harbinger of a looming tsunami. Journalists on the scene from the Agence France-Presse (AFP) captured the urgency of their escape.
Fortunately, officials later withdrew the tsunami warning, calming fears.
Tragically, the earthquake claimed two lives, as confirmed by a representative from Indonesia’s national disaster management agency.
The quake’s epicenter was pinpointed just off the island’s northern coast, situated approximately 68 kilometers northwest of Ende, a coastal town. This data was corroborated by both US and Indonesian authorities.
The initial jolt was followed by strong aftershocks in the same area, including one with a magnitude of 6.1.
“Suddenly it started to shake and I panicked,” 31-year-old hospital customer service official and Maumere resident, Lukas Lotar, told AFP.
“Patients also fled the hospital, the jolt was big. I saw some walls were cracked,” he said.
A resident in Nagekeo, Yohanes Babo, 56, said he was at a market when the earth started shaking.
“The shaking was strong. Thankfully, we were already outside the house,” he told AFP.
“People were panicking, running here and there. We’re evacuating for the time being… and trying to get to the hills,” he said, adding: “My family is safe. No one was harmed.”
Evacuation urged
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warned of the possibility of tsunami waves following the quake and urged people to get to higher ground.
“We strongly urge our communities along the northern coast of Flores and in the southern parts, on the southern islands and across the southern region, to carry out self-evacuation immediately,” Abdul Muhari, an official at the national disaster agency, BNPB, said.
Residents should “move away from the shore, either by going more than two kilometres inland or by moving up into hilly areas more than 10 meters high,” he told local broadcaster Kompas TV.
BMKG earthquake and tsunami director Wijayanto said tsunami modelling suggested the potential for a tsunami in the provinces of East Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and West Nusa Tenggara.
An alert was issued for waves ranging from 0.5 metres to three metres (1.6 to 9.8 feet), but was later lifted.
“We have ended (the tsunami warning) but we will keep monitoring the sea level,” said Wijayanto who, like many Indonesians, goes by one name.
Residents in the town of Maumere on Flores Island were evacuating to higher ground, an AFP correspondent saw.
Images broadcast on Indonesian television showed hundreds of people in nearby Nagekeo regency evacuating the area from among the rubble of damaged buildings.
Authorities have not reported any casualties, but said tsunami waves between 19 and 30 centimetres have been detected.
Indonesia and neighbouring countries experience frequent earthquakes due to their location in the Pacific “Ring of Fire” — an arc of intense seismic activity stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
Among Indonesia’s history of deadly quakes is a devastating 9.1-magnitude tremor in 2004 that struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including about 170,000 in Indonesia.
The Boxing Day tragedy was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.
In 2018, a powerful quake shook the island of Lombok and several more tremors followed over the next couple of weeks, killing more than 550 people on the holiday island and neighbouring Sumbawa.
Later that year, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island left more than 4,300 people dead or missing.
Construction Workers Unearth $10M Gold in Brewery Sewer Project
In a remarkable discovery this week, construction workers in Belgium unearthed $10.4 million worth of gold during the construction of a new sewer beneath a former brewery site. Local authorities swiftly confirmed the astounding find.
Police officials from Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, a quaint Flemish town on the outskirts of Brussels, reported that the workers immediately informed them about the treasure trove. The officers meticulously cataloged the gold before storing it securely in a federally managed high-security vault.
Among the workers was 18-year-old Kobe, who recounted his initial surprise to VRT news. “At first glance, I thought they were just 1 Euro coins,” he admitted, still digesting the magnitude of their discovery.
Kobe described the collective shock shared by the crew, mentioning that their initial reaction was one of disbelief and amazement. He explained that they stumbled upon the gold while removing part of the building’s foundation to install new sewer pipes.
Belgium’s construction crew’s unexpected find this week involved unearthing $10.4 million in gold as they worked on a new sewer beneath an old brewery location—a discovery that astonished local authorities. (Lokale Politie Dendermonde/Facebook)
“When we did that, we suddenly saw something lying around,” he said.
Project leader Mario said it was a “crazy feeling.”
“They shouted, ‘We found gold,'” he told the outlet of his workers. “I went to look and took the gold in my hands. We also continued to dig up new coins and bars. Only then did what we had found really dawn.”
He called his boss and then the police.
Police in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, a Flemish community outside of Brussels, said the workers contacted them immediately about the find, which officers cataloged, then placed in a “high-security federal government vault.” (Lokale Politie Dendermonde/Facebook)
The construction workers don’t actually get to keep the gold. Under Belgian law, the rightful owner has the right to claim the gold within five years.
When asked if it had crossed his mind to keep it, Mario told VRT, “It’s about so many coins and bars, that almost wouldn’t be possible. Besides, it would also be theft.”
Kobe said he still hoped for a finder’s fee. “That would be nice.”
Police catalog the gold found in Belgium. (Lokale Politie Dendermonde/Facebook)
The building is owned by an organization that provides welfare support to the Flemish community.
The director of the organization said he hoped the gold could be used to help with the “enormous need we experience daily,” according to the BBC.
The local police warned treasure hunters against visiting the site, saying it’s a fenced-off construction site with “several dangerous pits” and that the gold has all been removed.
Police added, “We hope this treasure ends up in the right hands and that this unexpected discovery positively changes many lives!”
Mets’ Kodai Senga Emerges as Dominant Force in Late-Inning Relief
The Mets’ season has been anything but predictable, a reality underscored on Friday night as Kodai Senga took the mound in a surprising closer role during the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals. As the iconic beats of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” reverberated through Citi Field, Senga prepared to secure a crucial win.
This outing marked a significant moment for the Mets right-hander, who previously only faced short-inning relief duties away from his home turf. Senga didn’t disappoint, clinching the victory by delivering a flawless inning that sealed a 4-1 triumph over the Nationals.
This performance was yet another in Senga’s string of successes, marking his fourth consecutive scoreless relief outing and his second time earning a save this season.
With the absence of Devin Williams, sidelined by a strained shoulder, interim manager Andy Green indicated that Senga will be a bullpen mainstay in the foreseeable future.
“He’s been performing well,” Green asserted. “Senga’s been relentless in his approach, consistently attacking the strike zone. We’re confident he’ll continue to handle high-pressure situations effortlessly.”
That could be in the eighth inning as well, depending on matchups, according to Green.
And Senga is doing his best to embrace the new role, which came after he repeatedly flopped as a starter following his standout rookie season.
“It’s easier to prepare when you know you’re going in later in the game,’’ Senga said through an interpreter. “You’re always physically and mentally prepared.”
One part of working as a reliever Senga has yet to do is throw on back-to-back days.
“I think I’m well prepared for it,’’ Senga said.
No one was prepared for the song choice, though, as the stadium darkened and the 1980s hit came on, with Senga running in from the bullpen with a three-run lead.
Senga said he chose it because he “heard it for the first time in a while and thought ‘That’s a great song.’ ”
Green approved of the choice and also was impressed again by Senga’s approach.
“I don’t see an ounce of fear,’’ Green said. “I see somebody attack the situation. That’s what you’re looking for.”
None of this is what the Mets had in mind when he signed a five-year, $75 million deal prior to the 2023 season.
At this point, they’ll take what they can get from the 33-year-old, and there is belief that his four-seam fastball/forkball mix may play out of the bullpen.
Green noted that Senga’s final pitch of the game, a forkball that Abimelec Ortiz swung over, was perfect.
Senga retired the first two batters he faced in the ninth before Jacob Young singled to right. He then hit CJ Abrams with a pitch to bring up the potential tying run in Ortiz before ending it.
The 33-year old had a 10.08 ERA after his last start as a member of the rotation on June 23, so nearly anything would be an improvement.
Considering his early success, it’s hardly a surprise to see Senga not shying away from his new job.
He acknowledged the adrenaline is “different’’ coming out of the pen and with another year and $15 million on his deal, Senga may have to get accustomed to it.
Mark Vientos (right hand fracture) is hitting, fielding and did agility drills on the field, but the Mets are not sure when he will start a rehab assignment.
Francisco Lindor continued his recent hot hitting with a homer that tied the game in the sixth, which helped make up for a third-inning error that led to an unearned run.
Mayor Faces Arrest in Explosive $1.5 Million Covid Loan Fraud Scandal
In a high-profile takedown, a Massachusetts mayor has been arrested over federal accusations that he misappropriated Covid relief funds meant for his tire business to bankroll his political campaign.
Brian Depena, who serves as the Mayor of Lawrence, faced arrest on Friday following revelations of alleged fraud that prosecutors claim tops $1.5 million.
Authorities have charged the 61-year-old with one count of wire fraud and another of money laundering, marking a significant development in the case.
Depena, elected as mayor in November 2021 and securing reelection the following year, previously contributed to local governance as a member of the Lawrence City Council from 2016 through 2021.
The allegations suggest he secured a $1.5 million COVID-19 small-business loan claims for his tire sales venture, which prosecutors allege was then funneled into his campaign coffers.
Rather than using the money for the business, Depena allegedly spent more than $880,000 to pay off high-interest mortgages on various businesses and put $90,000 into his mayoral campaign fund ahead of the 2021 election.
Neighbors told WCVB that they woke up to FBI agents shouting through a bullhorn outside his home on Friday morning. They then used a battering ram to force entry into the property, the outlet reported.
He made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Friday afternoon and was released after agreeing to several conditions, including turning over his passport and not seeking any loans without court approval.
After leaving court, Depena’s lawyer Carlos Apostle repeatedly responded with ‘no comment’ to questions while his client beamed a large smile for the awaiting news teams.
Depena, the Mayor of Lawrence, was arrested and charged on Friday in connection with the alleged fraud, that authorities said amounted to over $1.5 million
He is accused of obtaining a COVID-19 small-business loan worth $1.5 million for his tire sales business, seen here
Depena, who is a citizen of the United States and Dominican Republic, responded with ‘God bless’ when asked if he would resign. He made no other comments.
In 2020 and 2021, Depena obtained a government disaster loan for Tenares Tire Services Inc., a tire sales and automotive services business in Lawrence.
During the pandemic, the Small Business Administration offered loans to qualified businesses that were suffering financial losses.
He used a loan of $150,000 for the business. A year later, prosecutors say, Depena’s mayoral campaign was running short of cash, he owed back taxes and was under pressure to pay back high-interest loans on several of his properties in Lawrence.
He then requested several increases to the government loan and allegedly used $1.5 million to cover those expenses unrelated to his tire business.
If convicted on the wire fraud charge, Depena faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
He faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 if convicted on the money laundering charge.
Depena was elected mayor in November in 2021 and reelected last November, having previously served on the Lawrence City Council from 2016 until 2021
Depena is accused of obtaining a COVID-19 small-business loan worth $1.5 million for his tire sales business
Ted Docks, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, accused Depena of ‘cashing in on a public health crisis and blatantly defrauding a government program meant to keep businesses afloat during the pandemic.’
A statement said: ‘When elected officials misuse federal funds for personal gain, they’re breaking the trust of their constituents – and breaking the law.
‘Together, with our partners, the FBI will continue to doggedly pursue anyone who defrauds the federal government.
‘You’ll be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and that `easy money´ won´t seem so easy after all.’
United States Attorney Leah B Foley added: ‘Mayor DePena was elected to be a leader for the City of Lawrence.
‘He was looked up to and trusted by his constituents, but he betrayed that trust through his alleged corruption and lies.
‘Today’s arrest is just another example of our determination to root out fraud by anyone, even public officials and holding elected officials accountable.’
NYC Synagogue Shabbat Disrupted: Man Faces Assault Charges
A man faces multiple hate crime charges following allegations of disrupting Shabbat services at a New York City synagogue. According to authorities, the incident involved striking a congregant and assaulting a security team member.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch reported that the disturbance took place at Central Synagogue located on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.
The NYPD identified the suspect as 46-year-old Larry Montes from the Bronx. He is facing two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, along with several other charges.
Police revealed that Montes, a resident of the Bronx, was arrested on multiple hate crime charges after he allegedly disrupted a Shabbat service and assaulted both a congregant and a security member at Central Synagogue in Manhattan. (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)
“While synagogue security was removing him from the premises, he attacked a congregant, vandalized property, and later spat at and headbutted a security team member,” Tisch explained in a statement shared on X.
An NYPD sergeant working a paid detail at the synagogue immediately intervened and took Montes into custody, according to Tisch.
No one was seriously injured, and the incident remains under investigation, Tisch said.
“I have spoken with the rabbi of the synagogue, and I’m relieved that no one was seriously injured,” she said. “Those who were hurt were evaluated at the scene and are doing well. There are no known additional threats at this time, and additional NYPD resources have been deployed to the synagogue.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said no one was seriously injured during the alleged attack at Central Synagogue, which she said was the synagogue where she grew up. (WNYW)
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he was “horrified” by the incident.
“I am horrified by the assault at Central Synagogue during services today,” Mamdani said.
“I can only imagine the pain and fear an attack like this, during Shabbat services, causes for the congregation and for Jewish New Yorkers across our city,” he continued. “Every New Yorker must be able to observe their religion without fear of violence.”
“This despicable act has no place in our city, and our administration will do everything in our power to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe,” he added.
Tisch said the incident was particularly personal because she grew up attending Central Synagogue.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he was “horrified” by the alleged attack during Shabbat services at Central Synagogue in Manhattan. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
“I understand the sanctity of this space and its meaning for congregants,” she said. “Central Synagogue is where I grew up. 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 should never be a crime scene.”