A riot erupted in a historic Brooklyn synagogue when rogue members, described as teens and young adults from the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, dug a secret tunnel to force the establishment into expanding its sanctuary. Armed with basic tools, they dug a 50-foot-long tunnel under the synagogue's world headquarters in Crown Heights, resulting in clashes with authorities and construction workers attempting to undo their work.
The rebels gained entry through an abandoned Jewish ritual bath, breaking into the sanctuary space. The private tunnel was discovered when neighbors reported suspicious noises. The incident led to arrests and charges, including criminal mischief, attempted hate crime, and reckless endangerment. The Chabad-Lubavitch movement expressed dismay over the defacement of the synagogue and the ongoing legal disputes surrounding the property ownership. The synagogue's leader urged the community to condemn the actions of the rogue members.
