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Brooklyn Suspect Held on $500,000 Bail in Chabad Headquarters Car-Ramming Hate-Crime Case

City officials face renewed pressure to add bollards at religious sites after earlier warnings that 770 Eastern Parkway was vulnerable.

Overview

  • Prosecutors charged Dan Sohail, 36, with multiple offenses as hate crimes after video showed him clearing obstacles and repeatedly striking Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters’ rear doors; no injuries were reported.
  • At a Friday arraignment, a judge set $500,000 bail, issued an order of protection, and scheduled the next court date for Feb. 3.
  • The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is leading the investigation, and police said the attack occurred during a major Chabad observance that drew large crowds.
  • Sohail told police his foot slipped and he was wearing clunky boots, while his attorney and relatives cited conversion-seeking and mental-health concerns; protective custody was granted and a psychological evaluation was requested, with reports differing on whether it was approved.
  • A Dec. 30 city report urged bollards and other hardening at high-risk houses of worship, and sources say 770 was flagged, prompting renewed calls for swift installation as the administration weighs funding and timelines.