09 January 2024 , 21:08
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A shocking video shows a massive group clashing with police inside a historic synagogue after finding a secret tunnel leading to a closed women's bath in Brooklyn.
This violent scene reportedly took place at the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in Crown Heights. The synagogue's leader, Rabbi Yosef Braun, described this situation as "mind-boggling," expressing that those responsible for the incident were "ready to destroy and deface the Holy Walls."
Members of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement have reportedly dug this tunnel for nearly one year. The neighbourhood realised something was going on when they heard strange noises originating from beneath their homes last month.
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A historic synagogue now has damage after a group of men had dug tunnels to try and expand the synagogue - to a mikveh they don't own (@FrumTikTok /Twitter)This mysterious tunnel was allegedly designed to reach an empty women's mikvah, a ritual bath, aiming to enlarge the synagogue. After discovering the tunnel, the leaders of the synagogue called in engineers to check the damage. Cement mixers were brought in on Monday to fill up the tunnel.
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As workers tried to fill in the tunnel, a large group of men appeared and tried to stop them. Some even made it into the tunnel. Police officers were seen trying to hold back a mob outside the 100-year-old synagogue.
After a few hours, officers were seen taking the men out of the tunnels in handcuffs. At least 12 were taken into custody. According to the New York Post, ten received criminal misdemeanour charges, with another charged with obstructing governmental administration.
No injuries were reported. Rabbi Braun was horrified to hear of the damage to the synagogue. He urged the Jewish community "to call them out in all possible ways and strong terms."
He added: "They need to be put in their place, put in their place in so many meanings of the word," he said.
There has been an ongoing dispute about who owns the property. Chabad-Lubavitcher Rabbi Motti Seligson said that the movement has "attempted to gain proper control of the premises through the New York State court system."
"Unfortunately, despite consistently prevailing in court, the process has dragged on for years." Despite this, he condemned the actions that led to the brawl in the synagogue. He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "This is, obviously, deeply distressing to the Lubavitch movement and the Jewish community worldwide."
They added: "We hope and pray to be able to expeditiously restore the sanctity and decorum of this holy place."
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