New video shows driver repeatedly ramming into Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn

A driver was taken into custody after crashing his car into Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn on Wednesday night, New York City police said. There were no injuries, but the incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime, authorities said. 

The crash occurred just before 9 p.m. Eastern Time at the building at 770 Eastern Parkway near Washington Avenue in Crown Heights. At a press conference, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said officers assigned to a detail outside Chabad headquarters "heard a commotion in the building's main entrance."

Tisch said when the officers responded, they saw a driver strike the rear door of the building, reverse his vehicle and then strike the rear door again. Video shows the Honda sedan repeatedly ramming into the wooden doors while people are screaming.

Officers ordered the driver out of the car and placed him under arrest. 

Police said no injuries were reported. A representative for Chabad said the synagogue was evacuated as a precaution.

The NYPD Bomb Squad swept the vehicle and found no explosive devices.

What we know about the suspect

Police sources confirm the suspect is Dan Sohail, 36, from Carteret, N.J. The car used in the incident is registered in his name, police sources said. 

An NYPD official said Sohail stated his foot slipped and that "he lost control of the car because he was wearing clunky boots," after he was taken into custody. 

Sohail had no criminal history in New York City prior to the incident, the official said. 

When the NYPD spoke with Sohail's family after the incident, the family detailed a history of depression and mental illness, police sources said. 

Authorities in South Brunswick, N.J. say Sohail had a prior encounter with a different Chabad back in November. Police there said he was acting odd and told them he was homeless and wanted to convert to Judaism. 

Crisis counselors were called to the scene, and officers ultimately recommended that he seek mental health counseling. 

Sohail was not arrested at that time, South Brunswick police said. 

Potential hate crime

The incident is being investigated by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force.

Sohail was charged with attempted assault, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and aggravated harassment, all as hate crimes, the NYPD said Thursday.   

In a statement, Chabad said that "a car crashed into a side entrance" of the building that "encompasses one of the most important synagogues in the world. From video and witness accounts it seems to have been intentional."

As a precaution, Tisch said the NYPD would be increasing security around houses of worship across all five boroughs.

Mamdani calls it "horrifying incident" 

In a social media post, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that he was "relieved that no one was injured in this horrifying incident."

"This is deeply alarming, especially given the deep meaning and history of the institution to so many in New York and around the world," Mamdani wrote. "Any threat to a Jewish institution or place of worship must be taken seriously. Antisemitism has no place in our city, and violence or intimidation against Jewish New Yorkers is unacceptable."

Speaking further about the incident Wednesday, Mamdani told WPIX-TV it was a "horrifying incident where a man repeatedly and intentionally crashed his car into the building." 

"And we know that this building has immense meaning to so many Jewish New Yorkers, and those across the world," Mamdani added. "We know that antisemitism is not simply a thing of the past to be learned about. It is a living, breathing thing." 

Mamdani said he is in "final interviews" for a City Hall position on combatting antisemitism, "and this is going to be a key position that delivers on our commitment to root out antisemitism across the five boroughs and make this a city were Jewish New Yorkers are not just safe, but frankly celebrated and cherished." 

Mamdani said the announcement would likely take place next week. 

"An attack against all New Yorkers"

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote on X that "an attack against the Jewish community is an attack against all New Yorkers. My team is coordinating with the NYPD and have offered any assistance we can provide in their investigation." 

Both of New York's senators said they were horrified by the incident at Chabad Headquarters and called for more to be done to combat antisemitism. 

"770 is not simply a religious institution, it's an important spiritual home for the Chabad Jewish community, and this antisemitic attack against it is deeply disturbing. I am grateful no one was hurt and that the perpetrator is apprehended," Sen. Charles Schumer wrote on social media. "As we have to say far too often, antisemitism must have no place in NYC, in America, or worldwide and we must confront and conquer it whenever and wherever it occurs."

"This blatant act of antisemitism is not only an attack on this one building, but an attack on Jewish people across New York and the world," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said. "Chabad headquarters is a faith home for so many, and this is a deeply disturbing act of violence. We must root out antisemitism and hatred in all forms. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Chabad-Lubavitch and Jewish community."  

The Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, Harmeet Dhillon, said she instructed criminal prosecutors to open a civil rights investigation into the incident. 

Jewish Council for Public Affairs CEO Amy Spitalnick said this incident adds to the "too-long list of violence targeting Jewish institutions and communities."

"This real and rising crises of antisemitism, extremism and violence require whole-of-government and whole-of-society solutions — from city, state and federal officials, from partners across communities, and from civil society — not only to invest in physical security measures, but also to build the resiliency to hate and extremism in the first place," she said in a statement.