Driver Charged After Ramming Car Into NYC Synagogue: NYPD

BROOKLYN, NY — The driver accused of repeatedly ramming a car into the doors of a synagogue in Brooklyn on Wednesday has been charged with a hate crime, police said on Thursday.

The incident happened at the headquarters of Chabad Lubavitch in Crown Heights around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Dan Sohail, 36, was captured on video striking the doors repeatedly with his 2012 Honda Accord and causing one to fall in completely, as shown in the video shared on X by Yaacov Behrman, who handles public relations for Chabad Lubavitch.

According to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, Sohail told police that his foot "slipped and that he lost control of his car due to the clunky boots he was wearing.

Sohail has also been charged with attempted assault, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and aggravated harassment.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident “horrifying” and “deeply alarming.”

“Any threat to a Jewish institution or place of worship must be taken seriously,” he said at the news conference. “Antisemitism has no place in our city and violence or intimidation against Jewish New Yorkers is unacceptable.”

The entire incident was caught on security camera footage, according to police.

Police will have an increased security presence at places of worship across the city in the wake of the incident “out of an abundance of caution,” according to NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.