The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has launched a civil rights probe after video surfaced showing a vehicle repeatedly striking the side doors of the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Officials and community leaders say the footage and witness accounts point to an intentional act, prompting both local and federal investigations and public condemnation.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced she has instructed criminal prosecutors in the Civil Rights Division to open an investigation into the reported attack, signaling federal attention on a case now being treated as a possible hate-related incident. The move elevates what began as a shocking security breach into a formal civil rights matter under federal review.
Video posted on social media and shared publicly shows a vehicle repeatedly ramming the building’s side entrance, with clear damage to the doors and surrounding structure. At times the driver backed up and then drove forward again into the entrance, creating a dangerous and alarming scene.
Witnesses and onlookers reacted with alarm as the car struck the doors multiple times, and footage captures the driver stepping out and exclaiming, “It slipped!” before returning to the vehicle. The contrast between that claim and the repeated, deliberate-looking maneuvers in the video has fueled skepticism among community members and officials. The driver was subsequently taken into custody as authorities continued their initial inquiries.
The Chabad headquarters issued a statement emphasizing the significance of the location and rejecting any suggestion the incident was accidental. “Earlier tonight, a car crashed into a side entrance at Chabad HQ at 770 Eastern Parkway. The building encompasses one of the most important synagogues in the world,” the statement said, continuing, “From video and witness accounts, it seems to have been intentional.”
Yaacov Behrman, head of public relations at the headquarters, told reporters he found the timing of the incident suspicious and noted the presence of many rabbinical students in the neighborhood that day. “Today is a significant day on the Chabad calendar, with thousands of young rabbinical students in the neighborhood,” Behrman said. “We believe that it was not a coincidence that he chose today to drive his car into the synagogue.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly condemned the attack and expressed relief that no one was injured, underscoring the cultural and historical weight of the institution affected. “I am 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 said.
He went on to stress the need for serious treatment of threats against places of worship, stating, “Any threat to a Jewish institution or place of worship must be taken seriously,” and warned that antisemitism cannot be tolerated in the city. Local law enforcement echoed the gravity of the response, with the NYPD opening a hate crime investigation alongside other inquiries into property damage and public safety.
The incident has unfolded against a backdrop of rising concerns about antisemitic incidents in New York City, where community leaders and residents have pointed to a string of tense encounters and threats in recent months. Those earlier incidents, including reported confrontations on public transit, have heightened sensitivity and quickened the pace of official responses when a high-profile target like the Chabad headquarters is involved.
Community groups and faith leaders have called for vigilance and stronger protections for houses of worship, while investigators work to determine motive and any broader connections. Officials say evidence collection will include video analysis, witness interviews, forensic inspection of the vehicle and scene, and review of the suspect’s background to assess intent and whether federal civil rights statutes apply.
Local authorities and federal prosecutors now face the task of piecing together a clear sequence of events and deciding the appropriate charges if the act is found to be intentional and motivated by bias. Meanwhile, community members are organizing support and security measures around the facility to ensure safety and to send a message that threats to religious institutions will be met with coordinated legal and civic response.
As the probe continues, investigators have asked anyone with relevant footage or firsthand accounts to come forward to aid the inquiry. Officials emphasize the importance of thorough documentation and due process as they move from immediate response to building a case that reflects the facts uncovered by both local detectives and federal civil rights prosecutors.
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