Car Crashes into Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters in NYC

On Wednesday night, a driver was taken into custody after allegedly ramming his vehicle into the Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters in New York City. This troubling act resulted in damage to the facility’s door.

Fortunately, there were no obvious injuries reported, according to Motti Seligson, a spokesperson for both the NYPD and Chabad-Lubavitch.

The NYPD Bomb Squad inspected the vehicle but found no explosives. Interestingly, the driver shouted that he had “slipped” and made comments to the police who attempted to stop him.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that authorities are treating the incident as a hate crime.

Moreover, the U.S. Department of Justice has initiated a civil rights investigation concerning this incident. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon stated on social media that she had instructed criminal prosecutors to look into this violent act.

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani described the event as “deeply disturbing,” emphasizing that “anti-Semitism has no place in our city.” He shared his relief that no injuries occurred during this alarming incident while visiting the headquarters.

This act of violence has raised significant concerns within the community, especially considering the historical importance of this facility to many in New York and beyond. Mamdani underscored the necessity of taking threats against Jewish institutions seriously and reaffirmed that violence targeting Jewish individuals will be met with zero tolerance.

Expressing his support, Mamdani stated he stands in solidarity with the Crown Heights Jewish community and commended the first responders for their quick action. He pledged to keep the public informed as more details about the situation emerge.