NEW YORK CITY, NY - According to ABC News, nine men were arrested on Monday, January 8, at the Chabad synagogue complex.
New York City officials announced that they have issued vacate orders due to an "illegally constructed underground tunnel" connected to the Chabad synagogue complex. Earlier in the week, chaos erupted over the alleged secret passageway.
Engineers with the city's Department of Buildings (DOB) have been investigating the site since Tuesday, January 9, just one day after police had responded to reports of a damaged wall at the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn.
Police responded to 911 calls of a "disorderly group" that was outside of the headquarters, which are located at 770 Eastern Parkway in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights. According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), responding officers were informed that a group of individuals had "unlawfully entered 770 Eastern Parkway by damaging a wall."
A Chabad spokesperson said that when the synagogue moved to repair the wall, the men tried to stop them. Video taken by witnesses allegedly showed police confronting the men who were standing within a space inside of a brick wall. Others could allegedly be seen tossing desks while officers placed handcuffs on some of the men who were standing in front of the damaged wall.
Nine men between the ages of 19 and 22 were arrested that evening. They were arrested on criminal mischief and reckless endangerment charges. The headquarters has been temporarily closed pending a review of the structural integrity of the building.
On Wednesday, January 10, two days after the incident, the DOB said that after an "extensive investigation," they have determined that a tunnel had been "illegally excavated" under a single-story extension located behind the four-story buildings at 784 and 786 Eastern Parkway.
According to the DOB, the tunnel is approximately 60 feet long, eight feet wide and has a ceiling height of five feet. The tunnel connects four neighboring buildings, including those at 784 and 786 Eastern Parkway.
The agency said that the passageway was constructed without approval and permits from the DOB, and it had "inadequate rudimentary" shoring in place. The tunnel was found to be empty except for dirt, tools, and debris from the workers. Wall openings were also found in several areas of the adjacent buildings.
Engineers determined that the excavation work caused structural stability issues to two single-story extensions — the one located above the tunnel and another connected to it. DOB said that partial vacate orders have been issued for both of the buildings.
The DOB also issued a full vacate order to a two-story building at 302 Kingston Avenue, which is connected to the tunnel. The order was issued due to fire safety concerns after fire-rated walls were removed in the cellar and on the first floor. The other neighboring structures are not impacted by the vacate order.
DOB additionally issued emergency work orders to the owners of the properties, requiring them to stabilize the buildings above the tunnel. They also issued two work without permit violations for the illegal work that had been done.
DOB spokesperson Andrew Rudansky said in a statement, "The safety of our fellow New Yorkers is our highest priority at the Department of Buildings. We will continue to monitor the progress of this emergency stabilization work and if necessary, we are ready to take additional actions that may be required in the interest of public safety."
A Chabad spokesperson described the basement-level space as a "long, eight-foot wide room" that was "dug out by young agitators" underneath the extension. Spokesperson Motti Seligson said in a statement, "This episode has been deeply painful for us and the entire Jewish community. The synagogue carries profound significance to the Chabad-Lubavitch movement and the Jewish people worldwide, as the Torah teachings that have emanated from within its holy walls have positively transformed the Jewish people and indeed society at large.
Seligson added, "We look forward to the sanctity of the synagogue being restored and its light continuing to emanate to the world." Initial investigations still have yet to provide a reason or purpose for the construction of the tunnel.
Following the incident, Seligson posted to X stating that a "group of extremist students" broke through the walls in properties adjacent to the synagogue "some time ago to provide them unauthorized access." He said, "Earlier [Monday] a cement truck was brought in to repair those walls. Those efforts were disrupted by the extremists who broke through the wall to the synagogue, vandalizing the sanctuary, in an effort to preserve their unauthorized access."
In a statement, the Chabad Lubavitch Headquarters said that it was "pained by the vandalism" of a group of "young agitators" who "damaged the synagogue." The statement said, "These odious actions will be investigated and the sanctity of the synagogue will be restored. Our thanks to the NYPD for their professionalism and sensitivity."
New York City officials announced that they have issued vacate orders due to an "illegally constructed underground tunnel" connected to the Chabad synagogue complex. Earlier in the week, chaos erupted over the alleged secret passageway.
Engineers with the city's Department of Buildings (DOB) have been investigating the site since Tuesday, January 9, just one day after police had responded to reports of a damaged wall at the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn.
Police responded to 911 calls of a "disorderly group" that was outside of the headquarters, which are located at 770 Eastern Parkway in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights. According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), responding officers were informed that a group of individuals had "unlawfully entered 770 Eastern Parkway by damaging a wall."
A Chabad spokesperson said that when the synagogue moved to repair the wall, the men tried to stop them. Video taken by witnesses allegedly showed police confronting the men who were standing within a space inside of a brick wall. Others could allegedly be seen tossing desks while officers placed handcuffs on some of the men who were standing in front of the damaged wall.
Nine men between the ages of 19 and 22 were arrested that evening. They were arrested on criminal mischief and reckless endangerment charges. The headquarters has been temporarily closed pending a review of the structural integrity of the building.
On Wednesday, January 10, two days after the incident, the DOB said that after an "extensive investigation," they have determined that a tunnel had been "illegally excavated" under a single-story extension located behind the four-story buildings at 784 and 786 Eastern Parkway.
According to the DOB, the tunnel is approximately 60 feet long, eight feet wide and has a ceiling height of five feet. The tunnel connects four neighboring buildings, including those at 784 and 786 Eastern Parkway.
The agency said that the passageway was constructed without approval and permits from the DOB, and it had "inadequate rudimentary" shoring in place. The tunnel was found to be empty except for dirt, tools, and debris from the workers. Wall openings were also found in several areas of the adjacent buildings.
Engineers determined that the excavation work caused structural stability issues to two single-story extensions — the one located above the tunnel and another connected to it. DOB said that partial vacate orders have been issued for both of the buildings.
The DOB also issued a full vacate order to a two-story building at 302 Kingston Avenue, which is connected to the tunnel. The order was issued due to fire safety concerns after fire-rated walls were removed in the cellar and on the first floor. The other neighboring structures are not impacted by the vacate order.
DOB additionally issued emergency work orders to the owners of the properties, requiring them to stabilize the buildings above the tunnel. They also issued two work without permit violations for the illegal work that had been done.
DOB spokesperson Andrew Rudansky said in a statement, "The safety of our fellow New Yorkers is our highest priority at the Department of Buildings. We will continue to monitor the progress of this emergency stabilization work and if necessary, we are ready to take additional actions that may be required in the interest of public safety."
A Chabad spokesperson described the basement-level space as a "long, eight-foot wide room" that was "dug out by young agitators" underneath the extension. Spokesperson Motti Seligson said in a statement, "This episode has been deeply painful for us and the entire Jewish community. The synagogue carries profound significance to the Chabad-Lubavitch movement and the Jewish people worldwide, as the Torah teachings that have emanated from within its holy walls have positively transformed the Jewish people and indeed society at large.
Seligson added, "We look forward to the sanctity of the synagogue being restored and its light continuing to emanate to the world." Initial investigations still have yet to provide a reason or purpose for the construction of the tunnel.
Following the incident, Seligson posted to X stating that a "group of extremist students" broke through the walls in properties adjacent to the synagogue "some time ago to provide them unauthorized access." He said, "Earlier [Monday] a cement truck was brought in to repair those walls. Those efforts were disrupted by the extremists who broke through the wall to the synagogue, vandalizing the sanctuary, in an effort to preserve their unauthorized access."
In a statement, the Chabad Lubavitch Headquarters said that it was "pained by the vandalism" of a group of "young agitators" who "damaged the synagogue." The statement said, "These odious actions will be investigated and the sanctity of the synagogue will be restored. Our thanks to the NYPD for their professionalism and sensitivity."
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments
2024-01-14T14:30-0600 | Comment by: Robert
This is what happens when RABID ANIMALS, enter our country Thru the southern border. Those Rabid Animals should be placed in the tunnels and covered with yards and yards of concrete.