Suspect in Brooklyn Chabad Attack Had Recent Community Connections
Police in New York City have revealed that a man arrested after deliberately driving his car into the world headquarters of the Chabad Lubavitch movement had established recent connections with the Hasidic Jewish community. The incident occurred in Brooklyn on Wednesday night, with the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Dan Sohail, now facing charges of attempted assault as a hate crime.
Video Evidence Shows Prior Engagement
According to New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, Sohail attended a social gathering at the very same location earlier this month. Video footage circulating online appears to show Sohail enthusiastically dancing with Orthodox men inside the headquarters during that visit. "We believe that he was in Brooklyn last night to continue this attempt to connect with the Lubavitch Jewish community," Kenny stated at a news conference.
Contradictory Explanations and Actions
Sohail told investigators that he lost control of his vehicle because he was wearing "clunky boots," but police noted he had removed several blockades and cleared snow from a sidewalk before repeatedly ramming the car into a set of doors at the revered Jewish centre. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and no weapons were discovered in Sohail's car following the crash, though a Chabad spokesperson confirmed some door damage.
Background of Spiritual Seeking and Mental Health
In the aftermath of the incident, media reports have shed light on Sohail's background. The New York Daily News quoted his father as saying his son had been considering converting to Judaism and had struggled with "mental problems." Additionally, The Forward, a Jewish-focused media outlet, interviewed Rabbi Levi Azimov from New Jersey, who recounted that Sohail attended a Purim service at Chabad last year and visited twice more seeking spiritual guidance. "I was able to talk to him for a few minutes and see that he's not exactly stable," Rabbi Azimov told the publication.
Heightened Security Response
The crash took place on the 75th anniversary of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson becoming the leader of the Lubavitch movement, prompting immediate concern across New York City. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch rushed to the scene to brief the media, announcing increased security measures around houses of worship citywide. "This is deeply alarming, especially given the deep meaning and the history of the institution to so many in New York and around the world," Mamdani emphasised, adding, "And on today of all days."
Significance of the Targeted Site
The Chabad Lubavitch headquarters and synagogue in Brooklyn is a landmark that draws thousands of visitors annually and typically maintains a near-constant police presence around its complex. Investigators continue to piece together the motives behind Sohail's actions, with the hate crime charge reflecting the targeting of a Jewish institution.
