NYPD Update: Suspect Arrested for Hate Crime at Chabad World Headquarters in Brooklyn

Incident Overview

• 🚨 At approximately 8:46 p.m., NYPD officers responded to a commotion at 770 Eastern Parkway, the world Lubavitch headquarters.
• 🚗 A vehicle struck the synagogue entrance five times, reversing and striking it multiple times.
• 👮 Officers immediately arrested the driver, identified as Dan Sohal, a 36-year-old male from Carterette, New Jersey.

Suspect and Motive Investigation

• 💡 Sohal had recently connected with the Lubavitch community and attended a social gathering at the location about 10 days prior.
• 🚶 CCTV footage shows Sohal parking his car, removing blockades from the driveway, and then driving into the alleyway to strike the building.
• 🗣️ When removed from the car, Sohal stated his foot slipped and he lost control due to clunky boots; he did not elaborate further during initial interviews.

Hate Crime Classification and Charges

• ✡️ The incident is being investigated as a hate crime due to the attack on a clearly marked Jewish synagogue, which Sohal knew was a synagogue from previous attendance.
• ⚖️ Sohal has been charged with attempted assault, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, and aggravated harassment, all as hate crimes.
• 🔍 The NYPD's Hate Crime Task Force is leading the investigation, collaborating with state and federal partners, including the FBI and Kings County District Attorney's Office.

Security Measures and Ongoing Investigation

• ⚠️ There are currently no specific or credible threats to synagogues or houses of worship citywide.
• 🛡️ Out of an abundance of caution, the NYPD has significantly increased security around houses of worship across all five boroughs.
• ❓ Investigators are working with New Jersey partners to determine if Sohal has a history of similar incidents at synagogues in his home state.