"Watching from the courtroom gallery as Sohail pleaded guilty, Chabad Rabbi Yaacov Behrman came away irritated at the prospect of a sentence that could amount to "no consequences." "The message needs to be sent loud and clear that attacking a synagogue will be met with serious consequences," Behrman, a Chabad spokesperson, told reporters afterward. "That message was not heard in court today.""
A man pleaded guilty to repeatedly ramming his car into the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in New York City. Federal prosecutors said he cleared stanchions and urged people to move out of the way before plowing into a packed Brooklyn synagogue five consecutive times in January. The attacks caused about $19,000 in damage, which he must repay. He resolved the case without a hate crime conviction, pleading guilty to intentionally damaging religious property. He faces a maximum sentence of up to three years in prison, while federal sentencing guidelines call for up to six months. He has been jailed since his arrest and has already served more than three months. A Chabad rabbi said the court outcome did not send a loud and clear message of serious consequences.
#car-ramming-attack #religious-property-damage #chabad-lubavitch #federal-prosecution #brooklyn-synagogue
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