Brooklyn Chabad Car Attack: Father Says Son Faced Mental Health Struggles, Tried to Convert

BROOKLYN (VINnews) – The man who drove a car into the entrance of the Chabad World Headquarters in Brooklyn reportedly struggled with mental health issues and had sought to convert to Judaism, his father said.

Dan Sohail, 28, was seen near the Eastern Parkway synagogue before allegedly ramming a 2012 Honda Accord into the building at around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, police sources said. Authorities said Sohail had visited several synagogues recently, including Chabad’s international headquarters in Crown Heights, as part of conversion efforts but was reportedly turned away.

Video shared online shows Sohail dancing inside the Chabad headquarters two weeks earlier in the same clothing he wore during the incident.

Dan Sohail is the person who drove his car into 770 Chabad.
There is a video of Dan Inside 770 pic.twitter.com/kNBV1ZfPYw

— Ali (@MerruX) January 29, 2026

His father, Majid Sohail, told the New York Daily News that he only learned of his son’s arrest through relatives and expressed disbelief about the situation, saying, “I said ‘I don’t think so. It’s not the same Dan.’” Majid added that his son had spoken to his grandmother about wanting to convert to Judaism in recent weeks.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. No injuries were immediately reported inside the synagogue, and authorities have not determined a motive, though they noted Sohail’s history of mental health challenges.

Security experts have emphasized that protecting religious institutions requires both cooperation with law enforcement and proactive measures by the organizations themselves, including barriers and other safety enhancements. While authorities can offer guidance and assistance, they said, the ultimate responsibility for day-to-day security rests with the institutions.

The synagogue doors are being repaired.

It is clear the incident was intentional.

The attacker removed the metal bollards that typically block the ramp and protect the entrance shortly before driving into the building. The bollards have since been restored pic.twitter.com/R4f6DVMAeZ

— Yaacov Behrman (@ChabadLubavitch) January 29, 2026