A car collided with the entrance of the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening, prompting an investigation by New York City police into whether the act was motivated by bias.
Authorities said the driver was taken into custody following the incident at 770 Eastern Parkway, a site that Chabad representatives described as encompassing one of the most important synagogues in the world. No injuries were reported, and a bomb squad inspected the vehicle and found no explosive devices.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he visited the scene and characterized the event as deliberate, stating the individual arrested "intentionally, and repeatedly, crashed his car into the building." In a subsequent social media post, the mayor called the act "horrifying" and "deeply alarming."
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters the driver had been arrested and confirmed the bomb squad's negative findings. She also said the incident is being examined by the NYPD’s hate crimes task force.
Chabad Lubavitch spokesperson Motti Seligson posted on social media that "earlier tonight a car crashed into a side entrance at Chabad HQ at 770 Eastern Parkway," noting the arrest was made "almost immediately." An ABC News affiliate identified the vehicle as a gray Honda with New Jersey plates.
Officials emphasized that there were no injuries. Mayor Mamdani stated plainly: "Antisemitism has no place in our city, and violence or intimidation against Jewish New Yorkers is unacceptable." Commissioner Tisch added that police had bolstered security "out of an abundance of caution" around houses of worship following the incident.
Police and local leaders pointed to a broader trend of rising hate crimes affecting Jewish communities in recent years in the United States. Rights advocates have highlighted an increase in incidents targeting both U.S. Jews and Muslims since the start of the conflict in Gaza after an October 2023 Hamas attack, according to statements referenced by officials.
The investigation remains active as the NYPD’s hate crimes task force continues to gather evidence and determine whether criminal charges related to bias will be pursued. For now, city officials and Chabad representatives have focused on securing the site, confirming the absence of injuries and deterring any further threats to houses of worship.
Location: 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York
Status: Driver arrested; incident under investigation as a potential hate crime; no injuries; no explosives found