NYC Warned to Secure Houses of Worship Before Synagogue Attack

Mamdani administration received security recommendations nearly a month before car ramming incident at Chabad headquarters

Jan. 31, 2026 at 5:31pm

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The Mamdani administration in New York City was warned to install security bollards and other measures at vulnerable houses of worship nearly a month before a man allegedly rammed his car into the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn. A report from the Mayor's Office for Combating Antisemitism had recommended the security upgrades, but the city did not act in time to prevent the attack.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing threat of antisemitic attacks and the need for proactive security measures to protect houses of worship, especially those deemed high-risk. The failure to implement the recommended security upgrades prior to the attack raises questions about the city's prioritization of religious institution safety.

The details

The report from the Mayor's Office for Combating Antisemitism, issued on December 30th just before Mamdani took office, specifically recommended adding bollards and other security features at the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Crown Heights, which was later the site of the car ramming attack. The city had previously installed bollards in other high-profile areas to deter terrorist vehicle attacks, but the Chabad headquarters proposal never came to fruition under the prior administration.

  • The report with security recommendations was issued on December 30, 2025, two days before Mamdani was sworn in as mayor.
  • The car ramming attack at the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters occurred on January 28, 2026.

The players

Moshe David

Executive director of the Mayor's Office for Combating Antisemitism.

Dan Sohail

A 36-year-old New Jersey resident who was arrested on hate-crime charges for allegedly ramming his car into the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters.

Eric Adams

The former mayor of New York City who created the Mayor's Office for Combating Antisemitism in May.

Bill de Blasio

The former mayor of New York City who agreed to spend $50 million installing protective bollards in 2018 following a series of terror attacks.

Eli Cohen

The director of outreach for the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council who spearheaded a proposal for a pedestrian plaza with bollards and planters in front of the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters.

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What they’re saying

“It could have helped prevent what happened, I hope, now, there's renewed interest in the project.”

— Eli Cohen, Director of Outreach, Crown Heights Jewish Community Council (New York Post)

“They didn't really get the whole community on board with the idea. The plaza could have been open to any kind of event, like yoga, in front of the shul.”

— Anonymous, Crown Heights resident familiar with the proposal (New York Post)

“Mayor Mamdani knows that the safety of our neighbors and our houses of worship is non-negotiable. The Mamdani administration will take every necessary step to ensure synagogues — and all religious institutions and houses of worship — are safe, secure, and free from fear.”

— Sam Raskin, Spokesman for Mayor Mamdani (New York Post)

What’s next

The city plans to allocate funding in the upcoming budget to begin installing security bollards and other measures at houses of worship deemed high-risk, though it will likely take a few months to complete the installations.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the urgent need for proactive security measures to protect religious institutions from acts of hate and violence. The failure to implement recommended security upgrades prior to the attack raises serious questions about the city's commitment to safeguarding vulnerable communities and highlights the importance of swift action to prevent future tragedies.