Brooklyn Chabad Headquarters Rammed by Car; Suspect Faces Hate Crime Charges

Suspect Charged in Brooklyn Chabad Attack

• 🚗 A 36-year-old suspect, identified as Dan Soho, has been charged by the NYPD with attempted assault, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, and aggravated harassment, all investigated as hate crimes.
• 🎯 The charges stem from an incident where Soho repeatedly rammed his car into the Chabad headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
• 🌍 The building, known globally as 770, is a highly recognizable and significant institution within the Jewish community.

Suspect's Prior Interactions and Motive

• 🤝 Police confirmed Soho had been inside the building and interacting with students in recent weeks, with cell phone video showing him dancing and engaging with yeshiva students approximately 10 days prior.
• 🗣️ Despite his familiarity, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny stated the actions are still being investigated as a hate crime, emphasizing that Soho attacked a clearly marked synagogue.
• 👟 Soho claimed his foot slipped due to his boots, causing the vehicle to ram the building five times.

History of Incidents and Mental Health Concerns

• 📍 Authorities revealed the suspect has a history of attempting to enter Chabad centers, including an incident at a Chabad in South Brunswick, New Jersey, in November.
• 📸 A photo obtained by CBS News New York shows Soho in front of the New Jersey Chabad. A local rabbi reported Soho had visited multiple times, once yelling outside.
• 🏥 In New Jersey, police responded to a welfare check where Soho claimed he wanted to convert and was homeless; he was recommended a mental health counselor instead of being arrested.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Sources indicate the suspect's family has documented a history of mental illness.

Community Response and Security Concerns

• 💡 In response to the attack, community members emphasized fighting darkness with light, positive actions, and Jewish pride.
• ⚠️ Deborah Halberstam, an expert in anti-Semitic hate crimes, stressed the need for increased education from K-12 and beyond, stating that current efforts are insufficient.
• 🛡️ Halberstam mentioned that while the NYPD provides additional security, enhanced perimeter security would have been helpful in this specific incident, a point she has conveyed to the Mayor.
• 🏠 Rabbis are urging all houses of worship to implement stricter property, high-profile, and undercover checks for security.