At a historic synagogue in Brooklyn, an altercation broke out when a group of defiant Orthodox men attempted to obstruct the filling of a hidden tunnel that they had unlawfully constructed to access a closed-down women's bath.
On Monday, January 8, a video emerged of a group of angry males destroying wood panels and support beams inside the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in Crown Heights.
Additional video captured at the Eastern Parkway temple shows police officers attempting to disperse a mob of angry Hasidic Jewish males who had broken into the 20-foot-wide enclose under the women's area, causing wooden benches to topple over.
Rabbi Yosef Braun, head of the synagogue, slammed the perpetrators, describing their actions as "mind-boggling" and claiming that they came "ready to destroy and deface the Holy Walls," as reported by The New York Post.
JUST IN: Chaos breaks out in New York City after underground tunnels were discovered under the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 9, 2024
The incident below reportedly took place to prevent a cement truck from filling the tunnels.
According to the Crown Heights Info, the… pic.twitter.com/jHotsUmHKJ
Claims About Excavating Tunnel
It has been alleged that for about a year, members of the Chabad-Lubavitch organization have been excavating a tunnel under the synagogue in Crown Heights.
It is not known why the Chabad-Lubavitch group began excavating the tunnel, although it was reportedly intended to reach a nearby abandoned women's mikvah (religious bath) and "expand" the synagogue, as reported by the Jewish news site Forward.
According to Israel National News, the tunnel was ultimately found last month when neighbors heard strange sounds emanating from beneath their houses.
In December 2023, an Instagram video revealed a shadowy, dirt-walled area inside the adjoining locked women's mikvah.
Riot Between Rebellious and Police
Cement mixers showed up on Monday to fill the tunnel, which sparked the chaos after the synagogue leadership brought structural experts to examine the damage after the discovery. It seems like the Hasidic males used a hammer to smash down the brick walls of the synagogue, according to The New York Post.
Cops attempted to keep others from entering the tunnel, but some made it inside. Forward also claims to have footage showing protesters mocking the police and their attempts to enter the tunnel. Police were seen restraining individuals outside the synagogue.
Several hours passed, men were escorted out of the tunnel by police officers while handcuffed.
The New York Post was informed by sources that at least 12 males were apprehended. Reports indicate that ten of the individuals were indicted on accusations of criminal misdemeanor, one on allegations of hindering governmental administration, and one on a summons for disorderly behavior. Following the altercation, no one was hurt.
Disputes Regarding Property Ownership
Prolonged disagreements over the property's rightful ownership sparked the riot.
Rabbi Motti Seligson of the Chabad-Lubavitcher group made a statement after the fight, saying that they have been trying to get the New York State courts to grant them custody of the property. "Unfortunately, despite consistently prevailing in court, the process has dragged on for years," he added.
Still, he shared the city's condemnation of the youths' behavior in the altercation with the police. He said the building must be temporarily closed until a structural safety assessment can be conducted.
