
The driver who could be seen on video ramming his vehicle into the Chabad Lubavitch Headquarters in Brooklyn, then reverse and do it again, faces a slew of hate crime charges as more details about his past come out.
The Wednesday night crash at the building on Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights drew a massive police and emergency response. No injuries were reported and the driver, identified by police as Dan Sohail, was immediately taken into custody at the scene. His 2012 Honda Accord sedan was left mounted on the sidewalk.
The NYPD bomb squad found nothing incendiary during a full sweep of the vehicle. Sohail rammed his car into the building five times while the prominent Jewish synagogue was packed for a holiday celebration.
The man behind the wheel appeared to have yelled for people to get out of the way before he began driving into the entrance, two sources told NBC New York, which may help explain why no one was hurt. Video showed him slam into the building five times.
Law enforcement sources also said the driver has a history of mental health issues. The incident sparked a hate crime investigation resulting in a slew of charges on Thursday, including attempted assault, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief — all as hate crimes. Sohail also was charged with aggravated harassment and criminal tampering.
The 36-year-old driver is from Carteret, New Jersey, according to police. Attorney information for him was not immediately available.
Sohail previously tried to convert to Judaism and had visited the Chabad Lubavitch headquarters on multiple occasions, possibly to discuss conversion, two sources told NBC New York.
Among his international trips taken in recent years, Sohail traveled to Israel on Dec. 28 and stayed for more than two weeks, according to sources.
Police said the suspect was in Brooklyn at the time to keep trying to connect with the community. Rabbi Yaakov Behrnov said Sohail first spoke with rabbinical students in the area.
“They said the individual approached them about an hour before and asked them if the gathering was tonight or tomorrow,” said Behrnov. “So we know he intended. Whether he did it because he suffered from mental illness or to kill Jews — I know police are investigating.”
Out of an abundance of caution, police have escalated security around houses of worship across the five boroughs.
“This is deeply alarming, especially given the deep meaning and history of the institution to so many in New York and around the world,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a post on X after going to the scene. ” Any threat to a Jewish institution or place of worship must be taken seriously. Antisemitism has no place in our city.”
I am at 770 Chabad World Headquarters in Crown Heights, where a man intentionally, and repeatedly, crashed his car into the building. I am relieved that no one was injured in this horrifying incident.
This is deeply alarming, especially given the deep meaning and history of the…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 29, 2026
The Anti-Defamation League of New York and New Jersey also released a statement, saying it was “deeply disturbed” by reports of the incident. ADL also thanked law enforcement for their response.
“This building is not only a synagogue, but also the worldwide Chabad.org Headquarters and a beloved symbol of Judaism around the world,” the group said.
The FBI responded to the scene. People were allowed back inside the building on Thursday.
“It’s heartening to see everyone gathering, to continue on and not be defeated by this moment. But it’s a wakeup for the city, it’s a chance for the city to understand that antisemitism and hate and darkness need to be address proactively and positively,” said Chabad Rabbi Mordechai Lightstone.
News
“I was sorry for anything”: Kyle Sandilands breaks his silence and exposes all the network’s tactics to tear the pair apart
Kyle Sandilands has broken his silence in a blistering statement, claiming he is “not in breach” of his contract and asking ARN to let him return to his job on KIIS FM. The radio shock jock, 54, referred to his co-host Jackie…
Bridgerton Season 5 Lead Unveiled: The Return of ‘Spinster’ Eloise or Francesca’s Tear-Jerk Tragedy?
If there’s one thing Bridgerton has proven over the seasons, it’s that the show treats the book order like polite advice rather than a strict rule. Once Anthony Bridgerton wrapped up his story, the series happily wandered off the neat…
Violet Bridgerton: When the Ton’s Matriarch Chooses to Love Herself
PHOTO BY LIAM DANIEL After raising eight children, surviving endless scandals, and keeping the ton’s emotional ecosystem afloat, Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) has earned a little joy for herself. Bridgerton Season 4 finally lets her have it, complete with a…
Jonathan Bailey Affirms the Importance of Live Performance Following Recent Controversies
Jonathan Bailey used his acceptance speech at the 2026 WhatsOnStage Awards to reflect on the importance of live performance, and his own early training in ballet, while accepting the Best Performer in a Play for his role in Richard II. Bailey won the fan-voted…
A Fatal Turn of the Wheel That Took a Teacher Forever: A Lifetime of Guilt Now Haunts 18-Year-Old Jayden Ryan Wallace
Late on Friday night, a group of teenagers in Gainesville, Ga., drove to one of their teachers’ homes, armed with rolls of toilet paper to toss over the trees as part of a good-natured prank. Their teacher knew it was…
Hughes’ neighbor speaks out on the teacher’s tragic d3:ath: A shocking revelation about glorious younger years!
The family of a Hall County teacher killed in what investigators say was a prank gone wrong is asking authorities to drop the charges against the students who were allegedly involved. According to deputies, a group of five teenagers had…
End of content
No more pages to load