Man Rammed Car Into Brooklyn Synagogue Door

A Middlesex County man, 36-year-old Dan Sohail, has been federally charged with destroying religious property. On January 28, 2026, Sohail drove his vehicle into a side entrance of Chabad Headquarters on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York. He was observed on security cameras removing barriers before impacting the doors multiple times, dislodging them from their hinges.

Sohail was arrested at the scene and reportedly told investigators that icy conditions and heavy boots caused him to lose control of his car. He had recently discovered he had Jewish heritage and had visited the synagogue earlier in the month, expressing an interest in learning about Jewish traditions.

This incident follows a prior encounter on November 4, 2025, where police responded to the Chabad Jewish Center in South Brunswick, New Jersey, regarding a man yelling. Sohail was found speaking with a rabbi, stating he was homeless and having a bad day. A mental health counselor was consulted and determined he did not require hospitalization.

Sohail was arraigned and taken into federal custody on Monday, March 1, 2026. An attorney for Sohail declined to comment on the charges.