Bizarre incident unfolds outside revered Jewish center in New York City as driver repeatedly crashes into Chabad headquarters while people are praying inside.
A dramatic scene unfolded on Wednesday night at the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood, where a man in his car crashed into the building multiple times, sending shockwaves through the tightly-knit community. The incident, which has left authorities scrambling for answers, occurred while several people were gathered inside praying.
According to eyewitness accounts, the driver, wearing shorts, emerged from the wreckage and claimed that "It slipped," sparking a frantic investigation that is now being treated as a potential hate crime. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that no one was injured in the incident but assured that justice would be served.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the incident as "intentional" and "deeply alarming," while Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez called it "disturbing and unacceptable." New York City Mayor Mamdani also praised the swift response of authorities and emphasized the importance of community safety, particularly for the Chabad movement.
The headquarters, often referred to as 770 due to its original building address on Eastern Parkway, is a beloved institution that attracts thousands of visitors annually. Its Gothic Revival facade has become an iconic symbol of the Chabad movement worldwide.
Chabad spokesperson Motti Seligson confirmed that some doors at the complex were damaged in the crash, while police found no evidence of explosives or other hazardous materials within the vehicle. The investigation into the driver's motivations and mental state is ongoing, with authorities working to piece together the events surrounding the bizarre incident.
The incident also took place on the 75th anniversary of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's elevation as leader of the Lubavitch movement, a revered figure in global Jewish circles.
A dramatic scene unfolded on Wednesday night at the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood, where a man in his car crashed into the building multiple times, sending shockwaves through the tightly-knit community. The incident, which has left authorities scrambling for answers, occurred while several people were gathered inside praying.
According to eyewitness accounts, the driver, wearing shorts, emerged from the wreckage and claimed that "It slipped," sparking a frantic investigation that is now being treated as a potential hate crime. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that no one was injured in the incident but assured that justice would be served.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the incident as "intentional" and "deeply alarming," while Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez called it "disturbing and unacceptable." New York City Mayor Mamdani also praised the swift response of authorities and emphasized the importance of community safety, particularly for the Chabad movement.
The headquarters, often referred to as 770 due to its original building address on Eastern Parkway, is a beloved institution that attracts thousands of visitors annually. Its Gothic Revival facade has become an iconic symbol of the Chabad movement worldwide.
Chabad spokesperson Motti Seligson confirmed that some doors at the complex were damaged in the crash, while police found no evidence of explosives or other hazardous materials within the vehicle. The investigation into the driver's motivations and mental state is ongoing, with authorities working to piece together the events surrounding the bizarre incident.
The incident also took place on the 75th anniversary of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's elevation as leader of the Lubavitch movement, a revered figure in global Jewish circles.
just saw this and my mind is blown - can't believe someone would do that to a house of worship 
. I mean, 7 crashes into one building? What was going through their head? 
And the fact that they just walked away from it like nothing happened is seriously unsettling 
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The police saying it's a potential hate crime makes sense, I'd be freaked out too. And the mayor saying it was intentional... that's some serious red flags 
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It's like they're trying to send a message, but I just don't get it. 
driving around like that and hitting the Chabad building multiple times is just so reckless... i feel for the people praying inside, that would be super scary 
this is just crazy what is wrong with people can't even respect other ppl's places of worship or community 
oh noooo... this is like something out of a nightmare... how could someone do that to people who are just trying to pray and connect with their community? 
the fact that the driver said "it slipped" doesn't sound like an excuse at all, it sounds like a desperate attempt to downplay what they did 
crashes into Chabad HQ like 5 times while people are praying inside... intentional or just plain crazy? 
authorities say no one was hurt but I'm sure the community is still shook. 
gotta ask, what's the deal with the driver's shorts tho? 
and can we get some answers on this guy's motivations? 
either way, Chabad HQ has every right to be concerned about their safety. 
and btw, what's with the police commissioner saying "it slipped"? 
and my heart goes out to everyone who was there. i don't know what possessed the driver to do such a thing, but like, intentionally crashing into a building where people were praying is just not okay 
. i feel so sorry for the community and the impact this will have on them. it's like, we should all be able to walk down the street without feeling scared or targeted 
i feel so bad for everyone who was there it's just crazy to think what could've happened if ppl got hurt or worse 
770 Chabad center is like a global landmark for the Jewish community so I hope they get the justice they deserve 
just knows he did somethin wrong
. And now there's talk of it being a potential hate crime? That's not right at all 
. The fact that no one was hurt but still is deeply alarming 
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. As a community, it's crucial that we come together to support each other and ensure that our institutions remain safe and welcoming 
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mayor mamdani said its intentional which just makes me wanna give a big hug to the whole community cuz i can imagine how scary that must be for them 
and btw 770 is literally such an iconic building 
did u know its like the holiest place in jewish circles?! 
is he some kind of psycho? 
and the cops are treating it as a potential hate crime... that's heavy 
i get that the building is iconic and all, but like, shouldn't people feel safe when they're praying or just chillin' 
like what's going through his mind? 
. Community safety is super important, especially for places with such deep roots in the community 
I wonder if they have a secret underground bunker or something hidden beneath the building 
just heard about this crazy thing that happened at Chabad HQ in Brooklyn... 
and now they're thinking it might be a hate crime 
and now this... 
hope they catch the guy who did this soon 
.