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Pandemonium overtook a historic New York City synagogue when agitators battled with cops over a bizarre, illegally dug tunnel under the holy building.
Viral videos show responding officers pulling young men from the tunnel, as dozens of other agitators shouted, clapped and, at one point, appeared to bull rush through police and climb over destroyed wooden furniture.
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But the cops stood their ground and kept the large crowd at bay as their fellow officers continued to pull rabble-rousers from the tunnels and take them into custody, as they appeared to laugh and sing along.
In one video, posted on X by @FrumTikTok, which has since been deleted, Monday evening’s wild night started when several men blasted wooden panels with sledgehammers and ripped the coverings that hid the underground pathway, as construction crews prepped to fill it in.
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Jewish students riot against NYPD officers, who were called to inspect a secret tunnel dug under the synagogue by students in New York.(Bruce Schaff/AP)
One officer is heard telling members of the antagonistic group that they need to clear the synagogue out tonight.
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“They want to fix this tonight,” the officer said in a video originally posted by @FrumTikTok.
The account user has since deleted the videos and lengthy thread after it was raided by antisemitic conspiracies and remarks.
“I will NOT allow my account to be used by antisemitic Jew haters to promote their pathetic hatred of religious Jews,” the user posted on X.
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The chaos started with a 3:30 p.m. call about a “disorderly group outside of 770 Eastern Parkway” in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, an NYPD spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
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“Officers were informed that a group of individuals unlawfully entered 770 Eastern Parkway by damaging a wall,” the NYPD said in an emailed statement Tuesday morning.
“At this time, it is known that a number of individuals were taken into custody. Charges are pending. No injuries were reported as a result of this incident.”
NYPD officers arrest a student after he was removed from a breach in the wall of the synagogue that led to a tunnel dug by students.(Bruce Schaff/AP)
Hasidic Jewish students observe as law enforcement establishes a perimeter around a breached wall in the synagogue that led to a tunnel dug by students. (Bruce Schaff/AP)
What are the tunnels for and where do they lead?
CrownHeights.info first reported the shocking discovery under the Headquarters of Lubavitch in New York City in late December.
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Workers reportedly stumbled upon the bizarre underground pathway while they were working on the plumbing near the site, according to CrownHeights.info.
It reportedly was designed to reach an abandoned women’s mikvah — or ritual bath — around the corner and exited the building, the Jewish outlet Forward reported.
The small crew who dug the tunnel had been working on it for months to a year, according to the news outlet, but what purpose it serves or what motivated anyone to dig the tunnel remains a head-scratching enigma.
The inside of the dirt-walled tunnel was posted in a video by CrownHeights.info on its Instagram account in December.
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Jewish students sit behind a breach in the wall of a synagogue that led to a tunnel dug by the students in New York.(Bruce Schaff/AP)
After the inadvertent discovery, structural engineers assessed the damage, and the synagogue’s leadership prepared to fill in the tunnel.
As the cement mixers rolled into the area, the riot began, and the chaos ensued.
Rabbi Motti Seligson, spokesperson for Chabad.org, said efforts to repair the walls “were disrupted by the extremists who broke through the wall to the synagogue, vandalizing the sanctuary, in an effort to preserve their unauthorized access.”
“They have since been arrested and the building closed pending a structural safety review,” he said in a statement on X. “Lubavitch officials have 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.
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“This is, obviously, deeply distressing to the Lubavitch movement, and the Jewish community worldwide. We hope and pray to be able to expeditiously restore the sanctity and decorum of this holy place.”
Rabbis condemn actions of ‘agitators’
Rabbi Yosef Braun, Rov of the Crown Heights Beis Din, said in a recorded statement that a group of people “who were not appointed by anyone, have taken reign and control of the holy Shul (synagogue) of 770 (East Parkway), and decided to do as they wish.”
“Things came to a head today where people saw in the open where they’re ready to destroy and deface the Holy Walls … whose hand did not shake and tremble when they went and touched those walls, when they took a hammer to those walls?”
World Headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, located on Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York.(Google Street View)
Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky said they’re “pained by the vandalism of a group of young agitators” in a statement on behalf of the Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters. (Chabad Lubavitch HQ/X)
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Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky said they’re “pained by the vandalism of a group of young agitators” in a statement on behalf of the Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters.
“These odious actions will be investigated, and the sanctity of the synagogue will be restored,” Rabbi Krinsky said. “Our thanks to the NYPD for their professionalism and sensitivity.”
BOSTON (WHDH) – Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum responded to the team’s shocking trade of forward Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, reflecting on the near decade they spent together in Boston.
Tatum posted a tribute to Brown on his Instagram story Friday afternoon, writing, “9 years! Forever grateful for all that we accomplished together, for pushing me to be a better player. From first round exits to winning a chip together I’m thankful for it all. Nothing but love and respect for you as a player and as a person! Looking forward to see how you attack this next chapter of your career and wish you nothing but the best for you! Continue to be special.”
The trade will become official Monday once the league-wide moratorium is lifted. The Celtics will welcome nine-time NBA All-Star Paul George, who they received from the 76ers, as well as new signings Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley Jr.
(Copyright (c) 2026 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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We break down when Pittsburgh fireworks cross from fun into illegal
In Pennsylvania, it’s easier than ever to buy consumer fireworks, but using them inside Pittsburgh city limits is where the law tightens up.
In Pennsylvania, it’s easier than ever to buy consumer fireworks, but using them inside Pittsburgh city limits is where the law tightens up. For this week’s “Is It Legal?” series, the key distinction is that purchase and possession are generally allowed under state law, while where and how you launch them is restricted by local rules and safety regulations.
In Pittsburgh, residents can’t legally set off fireworks in public spaces like streets, sidewalks, parks or right-of-way areas. They’re also not supposed to launch them near buildings or vehicles, or in any way that directs fireworks toward people or property.
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In rowhouse neighborhoods and dense blocks, that effectively rules out most front yards, alleys and tight backyards, because they sit too close to homes and parked cars to meet the distance and safety requirements. On top of that, noise and nuisance ordinances can come into play, especially late at night, giving police grounds to respond when fireworks are reported as a disturbance or hazard.
Officials stress that fireworks are explosives, not toys, and point to common risks: injuries from misfires, fires on roofs or in yards, and the impact on pets, older neighbors and veterans with PTSD. That’s why they consistently urge residents to skip DIY backyard launches and attend permitted, professional shows instead, where licensed operators, fire crews and safety plans are already in place.
More: Is it legal? Boating rules on Pittsburgh’s three rivers
More: Is it legal? What boaters can and can’t do on Pittsburgh’s rivers
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More: Is it legal? Exploring ‘The Pittsburgh Left’
So, when viewers ask “Is it legal?” the answer is nuanced: Buying fireworks is broadly legal under state law, but setting them off in most Pittsburgh neighborhoods — especially in public spaces or close to buildings — is often not, and can quickly lead to citations or police visits rather than a celebration.
This article by Gabby Sartori was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
The AGANORSA Leaf Aniversario Connecticut is now available in a new vitola, one that also comes in a metal tube.
It’s the second different toro for the line, though it will be difficult to confuse the two cigars. The AGANORSA Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Toro, the existing cigar, is a 6 1/4 x 52 box-pressed toro. The new AGANORSA Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Tubo is a 6 x 52 round toro. Blend-wise, the line uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper over Nicaraguan tobaccos grown by AGANORSA. The line is made at the company’s factory in Nicaragua.
The AGANORSA Leaf Aniversario Connecticut Tubo has an MSRP of $19.99 and comes in boxes of 10 cigars.
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“The Aniversario Connecticut Tubo offers a perfect combination of elegance, convenience, and flavor,” said Terence Reilly, vp of sales & marketing for AGANORSA Leaf, in a press release when the cigar was announced in March. “It’s an ideal cigar for both longtime fans of the brand and smokers discovering Aganorsa for the first time.”
Charlie Minato
I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. Previously, I started TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors blogs of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry since 2010, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. Beyond writing, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff from weighing cigars to coordinating the tech. Outside of work, I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.