Car Rams into Chabad Lubavitch Headquarters in Brooklyn; Hate Crime Suspected
Suspected hate crime under probe after driver repeatedly strikes revered Jewish site.
A man was arrested Wednesday night after deliberately crashing his car multiple times into the doors of the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood, a globally significant site for the Hasidic Jewish movement. No injuries were reported despite people being present inside for prayers at the time of the incident.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the driver struck the basement-level doors of the complex on Eastern Parkway, reversed, and rammed them again several times. The vehicle bore New Jersey license plates, and video footage circulating online shows the car moving forward and backward on an icy driveway before impact. After exiting the vehicle wearing shorts, the driver reportedly told bystanders the car “slipped” and made comments to officers about attempting to park.
While the investigation remains in its early stages, authorities are treating the crash as a potential hate crime. Tisch noted no bombs or weapons were found in the car and declined to speculate on the driver’s mental state or motives at this point. Chabad spokesperson Motti Seligson confirmed damage to some doors at the iconic location, commonly known as “770” after its original address.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the act as “intentional” and “deeply alarming,” emphasizing the profound historical and spiritual importance of the headquarters to millions worldwide. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez called the incident “disturbing and unacceptable,” expressing relief that no one was hurt and vowing close cooperation with the NYPD to deliver justice and ensure community safety.
The Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters attracts thousands of visitors annually and serves as the spiritual center of the movement founded by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who assumed leadership exactly 75 years ago on this date in 1951. The site has faced security challenges in the past, including the deadly 1991 Crown Heights riots and a 2014 stabbing attack inside the synagogue.
A constant police presence has been maintained around 770 Eastern Parkway for years due to its high profile and history of incidents targeting the Jewish community. The latest event has heightened concerns among local residents and Chabad adherents, even as officials continue gathering evidence to determine intent.
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