Iconic NYC Synagogue Hit—Bomb Squad Rushes

A car didn’t just “slip” into a Brooklyn synagogue entrance—video shows repeated ramming at one of the most iconic Jewish sites in America, and New Yorkers want answers fast.

Story Snapshot

A driver in a vehicle with New Jersey plates repeatedly rammed the side entrance doors of Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway on Jan. 28, 2026, prompting an evacuation.
Video circulated online appears to show the vehicle moving forward and reversing multiple times into the doors, contradicting the driver’s claim that the car “slipped.”
NYPD arrested the driver on scene; the Emergency Service Unit and Bomb Squad responded as a precaution while the building was cleared.
No injuries were reported, but the incident landed amid heightened fears after other recent antisemitic attacks in New York City.

What Happened at “770” in Crown Heights

NYPD officers responded around 8:46 p.m. on January 28 after a vehicle repeatedly rammed the basement-level side entrance doors of Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The wooden doors were heavily damaged, and authorities evacuated the building. The driver, who was arrested at the scene, told bystanders and police that the vehicle “slipped,” even as video showed multiple forward-and-reverse impacts.

Police treated the scene as a serious security event, not a routine fender-bender. Reports described NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit clearing the building and conducting a sweep of the vehicle, while the Bomb Squad responded as a precaution and a perimeter was established. That kind of response signals how quickly a single incident at a faith institution can become a broader public-safety concern, especially when intent is unclear and panic can spread in minutes.

Why Investigators Aren’t Taking the “It Slipped” Claim at Face Value

The key unresolved issue is motive: accident or intentional attack. The driver’s explanation—that the car slipped while parking—clashes with accounts describing repeated ramming and with video that appears to show multiple deliberate motions. Witness reporting shared online described people yelling for others to move as the vehicle hit the doors again and again. Authorities have not publicly finalized a motive or announced detailed charges in the reporting available.

Chabad representatives emphasized safety first while avoiding speculation. A Chabad spokesperson said there were no apparent injuries and expressed hope for clarity soon. That careful posture matters, because it avoids feeding rumors while police do their work. For the public, the practical takeaway is straightforward: the incident is being investigated as more than a minor mishap, but available reporting still leaves unanswered questions about intent and any potential hate-crime angle.

A Symbolic Target in a City on Edge

The location amplifies the significance. Chabad’s world headquarters at “770” has served since 1940 as the spiritual and administrative center of the global Chabad movement, drawing visitors and functioning as a focal point for community life. Even without injuries, an attack—or a suspected attack—at such a recognizable religious site lands as a warning flare. When a vehicle is used as the instrument, it also forces law enforcement to assume worst-case possibilities until proven otherwise.

Context: A String of Antisemitic Incidents Raises the Stakes

The ramming came as New York City wrestles with reports of rising antisemitic incidents, including a separate January 28 attack in Queens in which a rabbi was reportedly assaulted and subjected to antisemitic slurs, leading to an arrest and hate-crime charges in that case. While the Brooklyn incident is distinct and motive remains unconfirmed, the timing and atmosphere explain why community members and police reacted with heightened urgency and caution.

For Americans who believe in ordered liberty and equal protection under the law, the standard should be consistent: protect religious freedom, enforce laws against violence and intimidation, and avoid politicized excuses when evidence points to deliberate conduct. If investigators determine this was intentional, accountability should be swift and transparent. If it was truly an accident, officials should still explain how repeated impacts occurred—because public trust depends on facts, not narratives.