Driver Rams Car Into Chabad Headquarters; NYPD Opens Hate-Crime Probe
A man struck doors at 770 Eastern Parkway around 8:46 p.m. on Jan. 28; NYPD arrested him and no injuries were reported.
Overview
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said a man drove a vehicle into the rear doors of the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, striking the doors multiple times about 8:46 p.m. on Jan. 28 and was arrested at the scene.
The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident as a possible hate crime and the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division opened a civil rights probe, officials said, noting the crash occurred on the 75th anniversary of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's selection as leader of the Lubavitch movement.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the episode "deeply alarming" and said "antisemitism has no place in our city" at a news conference, and New York Attorney General Letitia James said her office will work with the NYPD, officials confirmed.
The NYPD Bomb Squad inspected the vehicle and reported no explosives were found, and Commissioner Tisch said police have significantly increased security at houses of worship across all five boroughs.
Investigators said the driver, who has not been publicly identified, told bystanders "it slipped" and said he was trying to park; authorities said they are questioning the suspect and have not publicly filed charges as the inquiry continues.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the incident as part of a broader rise in antisemitic threats by pairing emotive official statements with contextual reporting about escalating hate crimes. Editorial choices prioritize institutional voices and security responses, highlight video evidence, and foreground community significance, steering readers toward a public-safety and hate-crime narrative.
Sources (5)
FAQ
The Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters, known as '770' at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn's Crown Heights, is the home and leadership center of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, serving as a central hub for the global Chabad movement.[1]
The driver told bystanders 'it slipped' and claimed he was trying to park, while witnesses reported he yelled for people to move as he drove in, appearing intentional.
The crash occurred on the 75th anniversary of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's selection as leader of the Lubavitch movement, also marking the end of 'Yud Shvat,' when tens of thousands gathered to celebrate.
The NYPD Bomb Squad inspected the vehicle and found no explosives; police increased security at houses of worship across all five boroughs, and the synagogue was evacuated as a precaution.[1]
The driver has not been publicly identified, but reports indicate he previously tried to enter different Jewish institutions in New Jersey, including Chabad, but was stopped.[1]
History
This story does not have any previous versions.