Dan Sohail, a 36-year-old man, pleaded guilty to federal charges of damaging religious property after ramming his car into the Chabad-Lubavitch Orthodox Jewish movement’s global headquarters in January. During a hearing in Brooklyn federal court, Sohail read a prepared statement to the judge, admitting he intentionally damaged the building by slamming his vehicle into it multiple times.
Details of the Attack
Surveillance video from January 28 captured a gray Honda sedan repeatedly striking the wooden doors at the base of the headquarters’ driveway. After the crashes, Sohail exited the vehicle and yelled curses at bystanders urging him to stop.
Legal Proceedings and Custody
State prosecutors in Brooklyn initially charged Sohail with hate crimes, but those charges were dismissed after federal prosecutors filed their case in March. Sohail has remained in custody at Rikers Island since the incident.
His attorney, Mia Eisner-Grynberg, declined to comment following the hearing.
Rise in Antisemitic Incidents
Hate crimes targeting the Jewish community in New York have surged since October 2023 amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted in a recent speech that 330 of the city’s 576 recorded hate crimes in 2025 targeted Jewish individuals.
Sohail’s Background
Prior to the incident, Sohail consulted rabbis and attended events at Hasidic centers. He lived with his mother and worked as a technician. His father, Sohail Majid Butt, described a upbringing blending Islamic and Catholic traditions, with his son recently showing interest in converting to Judaism.
While detained, Sohail informed authorities he was converting to Judaism before the icy night drive. In a March hearing, he requested, through his lawyer, to stay at Rikers Island to observe Jewish holidays and appeared wearing a yarmulke.
Plea Deal Terms
Under the plea agreement, Sohail faces up to six months in prison, with credit for over three months already served.
