NEW YORK  (VINnews) — A Philadelphia man was arrested Wednesday after police said he entered a Midtown Manhattan synagogue during services last year, recorded without permission and yelled “Allahu Akbar,” authorities said.

Shear Nobles, 48, was taken into custody at the Fulton Street subway station in Lower Manhattan while attempting to evade the fare by ducking under a turnstile, law enforcement sources said. He faces charges of aggravated harassment and disruption of a religious service.

On July 21, 2025, around 7:15 p.m., Nobles entered Shuva Israel, a Sephardic synagogue at 122 East 58th Street, during an evening service, the New York City Police Department said. He used his cellphone to record inside the building without authorization and went into the sanctuary where congregants were praying. He then stated loudly “Allahu Akbar,” causing fear and annoyance, according to police. No injuries were reported.

Nobles, who had no known connection to the synagogue, fled on foot and remained at large for more than a year, sources said. The NYPD’s hate crime task force participated in the investigation.

Nobles has no prior arrests in New York City. Sources said he has a history of arrests in Philadelphia dating back roughly two decades that include robbery, burglary and retail-related offenses.

The synagogue, associated with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto’s Shuva Israel organization, is located in a historic Midtown building that also houses a large Torah library.

Representatives for the synagogue and the NYPD did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.