The city has issued a partial vacate order and an emergency work order for a Brooklyn synagogue complex after the discovery of a secret tunnel dug by extremist students from the ultra-Orthodox Hasidic group.
An investigation revealed that the 5-foot-tall, 8-foot-wide tunnel ran about 60 feet under a single-story extension directly behind two four-story buildings at 784 and 786 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, the Buildings Department said. in a statement.
The extension connects four different buildings: The two on Eastern Parkway, the structure at 302 Kingston Ave. and another extension near Union Street, the statement said.
Six members of Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic rebels allegedly dug the secret tunnel with crude instruments and their bare hands, without permits or approval.
The city found the illegally excavated path affected the extension above it and the single-story extension behind the Kingston Avenue building.
A man stares at the empty commandment at the synagogue complex on Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights. Gregory P. Mango The city issued a vacate order because of structural damage caused by illegal tunnels dug by radical students who wanted to expand the synagogue’s sanctuary. AP
The findings led the city to issue a partial vacate order for both buildings due to structural stability concerns.
“We have been on site in Crown Heights since yesterday morning to investigate the illegal excavation work found under the building, and its impact on neighboring structures,” the statement said.
“As a result of this extensive investigation, we have issued an emergency work order to stabilize the building above the tunnel, an evacuation order in part of the building to ensure the safety of the occupants, and enforcement action against the property owner for the illegal work,” he continued. .
The tunnel compromised the structural integrity of several buildings, investigators found.
“We will continue to monitor the progress of this emergency stabilization work, and if necessary, we are prepared to take additional actions that may be necessary in the interest of public safety.”
City officials also issued a full vacate order for the two-story building on Kingston Avenue because of fire safety concerns — investigators found fire-rated walls had been demolished in the basement and on the first floor.
Young rebels from the Chabad-Lubavitch movement appear to be digging tunnels under the synagogue as higher-ups are dragging their feet on expanding its sanctuary, sources said.
Extremist yeshiva students initially used their hands to dig tunnels as part of their religious mission to expand the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters, the sect’s holiest site.
The building department’s work instructions, issued to property owners, demand that they hire a professional engineer to shore up the tunnel, seal the opening and, if necessary, fill it completely.
So far, the owner has complied, and is “making preparations to begin emergency work and compile the necessary building reports,” the statement said.
The city also issued two violations to the building owner for the illegal work.
The world headquarters of Chabad-Lubavitch in Crown Heights, where a group of extremist students dug the controversial tunnel. Gregory P. Mango
The department said it would monitor the location and follow up accordingly.
Controversy over the secret construction project erupted earlier this week when community members discovered the tunnel and brought in cement workers to fill it.
On Monday, wild riots broke out when the NYPD was called in as some students tried to prevent laborers from entering the tunnel, which was ostensibly meant to expand the site
Lubavitcher Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson — the Rebbe — vowed to expand the synagogue at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights in 1988, six years before his death. Alamy Stock Photo
Police arrested nine men, aged 19 to 21, for their actions that day.
Dov Bear Shenhav, 20; Shmuel Malka, 19; Blumenfeld Yerachmiel, 20; and Henachem Mulakando, 19 were each charged with obstruction after they were eventually dragged out of their hidden homes.
Mulakando and Yerachmiel were also charged with criminal offenses for allegedly destroying the walls of the synagogue right in front of the police.
A fifth student, Levi Tyz Lahav, 20, was charged with obstruction for interfering with police efforts to arrest another, according to the complaint.
Images of the late Rebbe are plastered throughout the Crown Heights community, where Chabad has its world headquarters. Alamy Stock Photo
All five pleaded not guilty at their arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court Tuesday night and were released without bail.
After the ordeal, leaders will no longer sponsor educational visas that allow foreign students to attend yeshiva in Brooklyn, said a Chabad rabbi who declined to be named.
“They are fanatics,” said the Chabad rabbi. “They are part of a small group of extremes.
“The concept of Chabad is to be kind to everyone, and we are kind to them, but we never thought for a second that they would make such a problem,” he added. “It was a big mistake to let them into the community. The school will now close their visas.”
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
