New York police probe car crash into synagogue as hate crime

A car crash into Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters is being investigated by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) as a hate crime.

No one was injured and police have arrested a male driver who was taken into custody, officials confirmed.

The headquarters, based in the Crown Heights neighbourhood of the Brooklyn borough, is a red brick synagogue attended by followers of the Hasidic branch of ultra-Orthodox Judaism.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the act "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 to look into a "commotion" at its main entrance, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters on Wednesday night.

Officers who attended the scene saw a driver repeatedly ram into the rear door of the building.

"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.

No explosives were found following a sweep conducted by a bomb squad and a 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 appearing to feature videos of the incident and wrote "an attack against the Jewish community is an attack against all New Yorkers".