Man arrested after ramming car into Brooklyn synagogue multiple times

A man described by witnesses as troubled and previously seeking “guidance” from Jewish community members was arrested on the night of January 28 after repeatedly driving his car into a synagogue in Brooklyn, later claiming the crash occurred because the vehicle “slipped”.

According to US media, videos circulated on the internet showed a grey Honda sedan with New Jersey license plates reversing and then ramming into a side entrance of the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters at least four times. The incident took place during a religious celebration that had drawn thousands of worshippers from around the world to the Crown Heights neighbourhood.

Police were called to the building on Eastern Parkway around 8:45 p.m. following reports of a motor vehicle collision. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a late-night press conference that the department’s hate crime task force is investigating the case as a possible hate crime.

Authorities said officers found that the vehicle had crashed into the doors of a sloped driveway leading into the synagogue.

Sources told reporters that the driver claimed he experienced a mechanical problem and did not make any terror-related statements after being taken into custody.

Several witnesses said the man had been seen lingering outside the Brooklyn Chabad building before suddenly accelerating into the entrance. They also recognised him as the same individual who had appeared at other Chabad locations in New Jersey over recent months.

“He was always asking people for help. They called the police on him before,” one witness said.

Another source recalled seeing the man at a New Jersey synagogue in November, where he was reportedly “looking for spiritual guidance.”

“He was very learned – he knew a lot about the Bible and Judaism. He was having a hard time with life,” the source said.

According to another account, the man often gave inconsistent explanations about his ties to Judaism, at times saying his mother was Jewish and at other times claiming to be Jewish himself.

Following the crash, the synagogue was evacuated. Police and community leaders confirmed that no one was injured.

By Tamilla Hasanova