New York synagogue attack exposes secret tunnels
Date
1/10/2024 2:01:08 AM
(MENAFN) In a dramatic turn of events, New York City Police made several arrests on Monday as crowds of Orthodox Jews rioted in response to construction crews attempting to fill in secret tunnels discovered beneath a prominent synagogue. The incident unfolded at the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters, known locally as 'The 770,' situated at 770 Eastern Parkway in the predominantly Jewish neighborhood of Crown Heights. The building serves as the headquarters of the Chabad movement, one of the world's largest Hasidic Jewish organizations.
The trouble began when municipal workers brought in cement trucks to seal off a tunnel found beneath the synagogue. Young Jewish men, identified as Orthodox Jews, reportedly vandalized the cement trucks, leading to a call for police intervention. As officers entered the synagogue, individuals in traditional Jewish attire were observed pulling wooden panels off interior walls, seemingly in an attempt to widen the entrance to the tunnel.
The situation escalated as crowds jeered at police officers attempting to remove protesters from the tunnel entrance. Ten people were reportedly arrested in the ensuing scuffles between law enforcement and worshippers, according to local news site Crown Heights Info. Multiple entrances to the tunnel system were eventually secured.
The origins and purpose of the hidden tunnels remain unclear, with speculation arising from unverified sources on social media suggesting they were excavated during the 2020 and 2021 coronavirus lockdowns for clandestine prayer sessions. Contrarily, the Jewish news site Forward claimed that the tunnels were dug within the last year or two, allegedly for illegal building expansion.
The incident has stirred debates within the community and raised questions about the secretive construction beneath the prominent synagogue. As investigations unfold, the clash between worshippers and law enforcement sheds light on the complexities surrounding religious institutions and potential unauthorized constructions in urban environments.
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