Gerrard Kaonga
Bizarre scenes unfolded in a synagogue between a group of students and the police in New York City following the discovery of secret underground tunnels.
Videos have begun to circulate on social media - but they've resulted in more questions than answers for what is happening.
In December of last year, tunnels were reportedly discovered at the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn.
It is not clear who dug the tunnel or what it was used for prior to its discovery.
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Video footage from inside the tunnel has also begun to circulate on social media, showing that it led to a now abandoned ritual bath known as a mikveh.
The tunnel was also full of garbage, clothes and mattresses.
But when the decision to fill the tunnels with concrete was made, things really kicked off.
Chabad-Lubavitch students and teens protested the move, causing chaos at the tunnel entrance on Monday (January 8)
The New York Police Department were called to help stem the chaos after 'a group of individuals unlawfully entered' the building by damaging a wall, according to a NYPD spokesperson.
Videos from the scene showed the truck that had been brought to pump cement into the tunnel had been vandalized.
While others were spotted tearing up wood paneling - which revealed a pathway - before proceeding to head into the tunnels to stop them being filled.
Even with police in the vicinity, one person was reportedly seen sitting down drinking in front of the entrance to the tunnels - with wooden furniture also being overturned by protesters.
Videos also showed several individuals being escorted out of the building by police officers.
The Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters has since released a statement following the incident.
“The Chabad-Lubavitch community is pained by the vandalism of a group of young agitators who damaged the synagogue below Chabad Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway Monday night,” it read.
“These odious actions will be investigated, and the sanctity of the synagogue will be restored.
"Our thanks to the NYPD for their professionalism and sensitivity.”
The Chabad spokesperson and media director Motti Seligson also dubbed the students protesting as ‘extremist’ and issued a statement on X as well.
“Earlier today, a cement truck was brought in to repair those walls. Those efforts were disrupted by the extremists who broke through the wall to the synagogue, vandalizing the sanctuary, in an effort to preserve their unauthorized access,” he wrote.
“They have since been arrested and the building closed pending a structural safety review.
“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."
An NYPD spokesperson told Newsweek: "At this time, it is known that a number of individuals were taken into custody. Charges are pending."
They also said that no injuries had been reported.
UNILAD has contacted the New York Police Department and the Chabad Lubavitch group for further comment.