No one was injured in the incident, and police have arrested a male driver who was taken into custody, officials confirmed, BBC reports.
A car deliberately struck the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, United States, on Wednesday, prompting a hate crime investigation by the New York City Police Department.
No one was injured in the incident, and police have arrested a male driver who was taken into custody, officials confirmed, BBC reports.
The headquarters, a red brick synagogue in the Crown Heights neighbourhood, is attended by followers of the Hasidic branch of ultra‑Orthodox Judaism.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the act as "deeply alarming", adding: "Any threat to a Jewish institution or place of worship must be taken seriously."
"Antisemitism has no place in our city, and violence or intimidation against Jewish New Yorkers is unacceptable," Mamdani said.
Police were called to the synagogue after reports of a "commotion" at the building’s main entrance, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters on Wednesday night.
Officers at the scene witnessed the driver repeatedly ram into the building’s rear door.
"Officers immediately ordered the driver out of the car and placed him under arrest," Tisch said.
The NYPD’s hate crimes taskforce is investigating the incident, she added.
A bomb squad conducted a sweep of the premises, but no explosives were found. The motive has not yet been established.
Tisch said, "Out of an abundance of caution, the NYPD has significantly increased security around houses of worships throughout all five boroughs."
New York Governor Kathy Hochul reposted an X social media post showing videos of the incident and wrote: "For the second day in a row, Jewish New Yorkers were the targets of antisemitic violence. Thankfully, there appear to be no injuries — but an attack against the Jewish community is an attack against all New Yorkers.
“My team is coordinating with the NYPD and have offered any assistance we can provide in their investigation."