Car rams into Chabad headquarters in New York City, damaging doors

"Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that while it was too early in the investigation to speculate on the driver's motives, the incident was being investigated as a possible hate crime. "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," said New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who called the crash "intentional.""

"Video of the crash that was posted online shows a car with New Jersey license plates moving forward and backward on an icy driveway leading to a building in the complex and ramming its basement-level doors. The driver, who is wearing shorts, emerges, shouts to bystanders that "It slipped" and says something to police about trying to park. Chabad Lubavitch spokesperson Motti Seligson said some of the doors were damaged in the crash."

"The Chabad Lubavitch headquarters and synagogue in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood receives thousands of visitors annually. Its Gothic Revival facade is very recognizable to adherents of the Chabad movement and has inspired dozens of replicas across the world. Commonly referred to as 770, a nod to the Eastern Parkway address of the complex's original building, the headquarters encompasses multiple adjacent structures."

A man was arrested after repeatedly crashing his car into the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in Crown Heights on Wednesday night while people were gathered for prayer. No one was injured when the driver struck a basement-level door and reversed, striking it several more times. Police said it was too early to determine motive and the incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime. Video shows a vehicle moving forward and backward on an icy driveway and ramming doors; the driver told bystanders "It slipped" and claimed he was trying to park. Some doors were damaged. New York officials called the crash disturbing and intentional, and the Brooklyn District Attorney's office is coordinating with the NYPD.

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