Secret tunnel in NYC synagogue leads to 9 arrests, brawl between police and worshippers

A historic Brooklyn synagogue was the site of a bizarre brawl between members of an influential Hasidic Jewish movement and police after a secret underground tunnel was found beneath the premises. The secret tunnel was discovered underneath the global headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitcher movement at 770 Eastern Pkwy. in Crown Heights. It appears the tunnel was first uncovered by religious leaders late last year, according to local media reports, and has caused a schism in the community between those who support the tunnel and those who do not. The tunnel is believed to have been dug by students and young men in the community in a bid to expand the synagogue and annex additional space in the basement of an empty apartment building behind the headquarters, according to reporting by the New York Times and The Associated Press. When Chabad leaders called in a cement truck on Monday afternoon to seal up the passageway’s opening, supporters of the tunnel staged an impromptu protest to block the effort. The ensuing conflict turned violent as police moved in. For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/10218611/secret-tunnel-nyc-synagogue-chabad-lubavitcher/ Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc Like Global News on Facebook HERE: http://bit.ly/255GMJQ Follow Global News on Twitter HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: https://bit.ly/2QZaZIB #GlobalNews #NYC #synagogue