What Went Down
Brooklyn Shakes Things Up. Okay, so get this – there’s been this wild discovery of a secret tunnel under the Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue in Brooklyn. But here’s the kicker – it’s causing a whole mess with the stability of nearby buildings. City officials had to rush in for an emergency check, and now they’ve slapped an order to evacuate because things might get seriously dicey.
The Tunnel Scoop
Turns out, this tunnel, stretching 60 feet long and 8 feet wide, was dug without any thumbs-up from the Department of Buildings. No permits, no approvals – just a bunch of folks deciding to go all tunnel-digger without thinking it through. The tunnel even went through basement walls of neighboring buildings, messing with their stability.
Building Drama
Two single-story buildings nearby are now on shaky ground, thanks to this secret tunnel project. The inspectors found that the tunnel didn’t have the right support and created openings in the adjacent buildings. And get this – the tunnel was basically empty, filled with dirt, tools, and worker leftovers.
Safety First, Actions Next
The city’s all about keeping folks safe, so the Department of Buildings is on-site in Crown Heights, making sure things aren’t about to crumble. Nine people got busted in connection with this underground caper, and the synagogue owners got a stern talking to with some citations.
Community Chaos
So, when they tried to seal off the tunnel on Monday, all hell broke loose. Some worshippers weren’t having it and went head-to-head with the cops. Rabbi Motti Seligson is calling the tunnel-makers “extremists” and “young agitators.”
Defense Mode
Now, the lawyer for five of the arrested folks is saying his clients might’ve been a bit clueless but swear they weren’t out to wreck the synagogue. He’s pretty confident they wouldn’t mess with the foundation, just a case of some tunnel naivety.
Tunnel Mystery
Here’s the real head-scratcher – why the heck did they dig that tunnel? No one knows. The Department of Buildings is keeping an eye on things and ready to throw down more safety measures if needed.
Chabad-Lubavitch HQ Closure
The Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters, where Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson once lived, is on lockdown. This guy led the Chabad-Lubavitch movement for ages, giving a new lease on life to a Hassidic community hit hard by the Holocaust. Some super loyal fans even think he’s the Messiah and reckon the tunnel was part of his grand plan.
So, there you have it – a secret tunnel causing chaos in Brooklyn, arrests, protests, and a whole lot of head-scratching about why it was even there in the first place. Talk about a neighborhood rollercoaster!