Suspect in Chabad World Headquarters car ramming facing federal charges

Dan Sohail previously faced state hate crime charges and is in custody after failing to post bail.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Dan Sohail, the individual who police say drove his car repeatedly into the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters on January 28, is now facing federal charges. Video of the incident showed Sohail then got out of his car and told the gathered crowd, "I dunno, it slipped! It slipped, you f-king a-hole!" He appeared to spit at the crowd as NYPD officers led him toward their police cruiser.

Why it matters

This kind of incident, involving a lone actor, is what authorities worry about following the US strikes on Iran. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul pledged the state would keep Jews and Iranians safe and said "We will not tolerate any hate or retaliation against anyone who calls New York home because of what's happening."

The details

Sohail previously faced state hate crime charges and is in custody after failing to post bail. The exact federal charges he faces are not immediately clear, but a federal magistrate judge has ordered the criminal complaint unsealed.

  • The incident occurred on January 28, 2026.
  • Sohail was arrested at the scene.

The players

Dan Sohail

The individual who police say drove his car repeatedly into the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters.

Kathy Hochul

The Governor of New York who pledged the state would keep Jews and Iranians safe and said they would not tolerate any hate or retaliation.

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What they’re saying

“We will not tolerate any hate or retaliation against anyone who calls New York home because of what's happening.”

— Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York (abc7ny.com)

What’s next

The exact federal charges Sohail faces are not yet clear, but a federal magistrate judge has ordered the criminal complaint unsealed.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing concerns about potential retaliation and lone actor attacks following US actions abroad, and the importance of authorities remaining vigilant to protect vulnerable communities like the Jewish community in New York City.