A New Jersey driver with a history of targeting Chabad sites repeatedly rammed his car into the rear doors of the sacred Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening. The deliberate attack, captured on video, has prompted an immediate federal hate crime probe amid surging threats to American religious freedoms. The suspect, Dan Sohail, 36, was arrested at the scene after using profanities and spitting at Orthodox Jews, and his history includes a prior arrest at a Chabad synagogue, contradicting his claim that the car “slipped.” The incident occurred as thousands were gathered for a Chabad holiday, underscoring rising antisemitism and demanding vigilance from law enforcement.
Story Highlights
- Dan Sohail, 36, from New Jersey, repeatedly crashed his grey Honda into the rear doors of 770 Eastern Parkway on Wednesday evening around 8:45 p.m., captured on video.
- Suspect arrested immediately after using profanities and spitting at Orthodox Jews, claiming “it slipped” despite prior arrest at a Chabad synagogue.
- NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force leads investigation; U.S. Justice Department under Asst.
- AG Harmeet Dhillon opens civil rights probe, signaling strong federal response.
- No injuries or explosives found during Chabad holiday marking 75th anniversary of Rabbi Schneerson’s leadership; thousands gathered at the global Jewish symbol.
- Increased NYPD patrols at worship sites nationwide underscore rising antisemitism, demanding vigilance to protect constitutional religious liberties.
Incident Details Unfold
NYPD officers stationed near Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights heard the commotion at approximately 8:45 p.m. Wednesday. They observed a grey Honda with New Jersey plates strike the rear basement doors, reverse, and ram again on an icy driveway. Officers arrested driver Dan Sohail, 36, immediately after ordering him from the vehicle. Video footage confirms the deliberate repeated impacts, contradicting his claim that the car “slipped.” No injuries occurred among the thousands gathered for prayers.
BREAKING: Vehicle registered to Dan Sohail, 36, of Carteret, NJ, rams gray Honda into side/rear entrance of Chabad-Lubavitch HQ (770 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights, Brooklyn). No injuries reported. Suspect arrested at scene. NYPD investigating as potential hate crime. Motive… pic.twitter.com/7s035NVz1n
— OSINT Europe (@Osinteurope) January 29, 2026
Suspect’s Troubling History Emerges
Sohail directed profanities at the Orthodox Jewish community and spat at them post-arrest, behaviors fueling the hate crime classification. Police link his vehicle to a prior arrest for attempting unauthorized entry into a New Jersey Chabad synagogue. This pattern suggests targeted animosity toward Chabad institutions, not a mere accident. The bomb squad cleared the car of explosives or weapons, confirming no immediate terror threat. Sohail remains in custody uncharged as investigations proceed.
Crown Heights carries historical tensions from the 1991 riots between Jewish and Black communities, heightening stakes at this symbolic site. Chabad-Lubavitch, founded nearly 250 years ago in Russia, now runs 3,500 institutions across 100 countries from this Brooklyn headquarters established under Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
Swift Law Enforcement Response
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the Hate Crimes Task Force took lead, praising the rapid arrest and bomb squad clearance. Increased patrols now protect worship sites citywide amid recent antisemitic incidents, including a rabbi assaulted on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. U.S. Justice Department Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced a civil rights investigation, escalating federal oversight to safeguard religious freedoms—a vital win for communities under threat.
Leadership Condemns Attack
Mayor Zohran Mamdani visited the scene, calling the act “horrifying” and “deeply alarming,” pledging solidarity with the Jewish community. “Antisemitism has no place,” Mamdani stated, emphasizing unity. Chabad spokesperson Motti Seligson confirmed no injuries at the global headquarters. Anti-Defamation League (ADL) NY/NJ expressed being “deeply disturbed,” coordinating closely with law enforcement. NY Attorney General Letitia James highlighted holiday crowds present.
This attack on the 75th anniversary of Schneerson’s leadership—where he led Chabad until 1994—amplifies its emotional weight. ADL describes the site as a “beloved symbol of Judaism worldwide,” urging sustained vigilance against rising threats.
Implications for Religious Liberty
Short-term, heightened security bolsters safety at Jewish sites; long-term probes may yield hate crime charges and policy shifts in enforcement. Chabad and Crown Heights Jews endure emotional trauma despite no physical harm, during a holiday drawing global visitors. Socially, the incident amplifies antisemitism discourse; politically, it pressures officials to prioritize Jewish safety. Federal scrutiny sets precedents for multi-agency responses protecting religious institutions—core to conservative values of faith and limited government overreach.
Watch the report: Witness says man repeatedly rammed car into Chabad headquarters
Sources:
- Car slams into Chabad World Headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn; NYPD investigating as possible hate crime.
- Car crashes into Chabad World Headquarters in Brooklyn.
- Ynet News article on the incident.
- Fox News: Driver rams car repeatedly into doors of NYC Jewish site; suspect detained.
