Crazed mob ransack Scientology Church as authorities concern chilling ‘pattern’
Authorities have theorised that a crazed ‘attack’ on a Scientology church might be part of a wider trend of social media stunts after three people were arrested
(Image: NYPD)
Three people have been arrested on hate crime charges after a crazed horde of youths ransacked a Scientology church earlier this month.
Now authorities are beginning to think the gang of alleged trespassers might be “speedrunners” – dumb social media stunts often organised in religious grounds for influencing “clout”.
Jaelen Dinkens, 19, and Mohammed Amolegbe, 21, were charged with burglary, criminal mischief and assault, around three weeks after an unhinged crew of 31 people smashed their way through a locked side door of the West 46th Street premises. Shocked worshippers and visitors could only watch in horror as the intrusion occurred on May 2, according to police sources.
Tashaun Simms, 28, was charged with obstructing governmental administration and tampering with physical evidence, the sources said.
Footage was released of the back-wearing, hoodie-donning suspects by the NYPD on Sunday. Many of the youths smirked while they barrelled into the facility, kicking over a storage unit and nearly trampling each other while they tried to take photos.
The hooligans inflicted $10,000 worth of damages and kicked a 30-year-old male employee in leg, police said. The staff member was not hospitalised but sustained minor injuries.
The Church of Scientology International, based in Los Angeles, said that they believe the incident was part of the recent viral “speedrunning” trend.
The TikTok trend uses the video game term “speedrunning” to describe groups of thrill-seeking influencers and troublemakers who film themselves running into properties owned or tied to the Church of Scientology since early April.
“A group of individuals forced their way into the Church of Scientology New York, broke a locked door to gain entry, and rushed into the building,” the church added.
“The disruption endangered staff, parishioners and visitors, including individuals attending a seminar at the time. This was not a peaceful visit or lawful protested. It was a coordinated act involving forced entry, property damage, and physical aggression inside a house of worship.”
