Man charged with ramming car into Brooklyn Chabad headquarters

Authorities say the incident is being investigated as a hate crime

Jan. 29, 2026 at 5:55pm

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Police have charged 36-year-old Dan Sohail with repeatedly ramming his car into the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood on January 28. The incident is being investigated as a hate crime, as Sohail allegedly had prior interactions with the Chabad community and no known criminal history in New York City.

Why it matters

The attack on the iconic Chabad headquarters has raised concerns about antisemitism and security at religious institutions in New York City. Authorities are investigating Sohail's potential mental health issues and prior interactions with the Chabad community to determine the motive behind the incident.

The details

According to police, officers heard a commotion near the building's main entrance around 9 PM on January 28 and saw Sohail, driving a Honda sedan, repeatedly ram the rear door of the building. Sohail allegedly struck the door a total of five times before officers arrested him. Sohail claimed his foot slipped due to the "clunky boots" he was wearing, causing him to lose control of the car. No injuries or explosive devices were reported.

  • The incident occurred just before 9 PM on January 28, 2026.
  • In November, Sohail was caught on camera outside the Chabad of South Brunswick and told police he wanted to convert and was homeless.

The players

Dan Sohail

A 36-year-old man charged with repeatedly ramming his car into the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn, an incident being investigated as a hate crime. Sohail has no prior criminal history in New York City but allegedly had previous interactions with the Chabad community in New Jersey.

Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters

An iconic building located at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood, serving as the headquarters for the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement.

Rabbi Mendy Carlebach

A rabbi with Chabad of North and South Brunswick, who said Sohail had come to their Chabad houses several times, once yelling outside, but never gained entry.

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What they’re saying

“I don't know why a person would repeatedly ram into such an iconic building. I thank God that no one was injured. It definitely is a wakeup call just for everyone to be very vigilant and know what's going on around you, your surroundings, and just be aware of who's coming and going.”

— Rabbi Mendy Carlebach, Rabbi, Chabad of North and South Brunswick (CBS News New York)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Dan Sohail out on bail.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing threat of antisemitism and the need for heightened security at religious institutions in New York City. Authorities will continue to investigate Sohail's potential mental health issues and prior interactions with the Chabad community to determine the full motive behind the attack.