A group of around 50 teenagers forced their way into a Church of Scientology building in New York City on May 3, 2026. The incident occurred at about 4:24 PM at the Church of Scientology of New York on West 46th Street, near Times Square. This chaotic break-in resulted in property damage and left a security guard injured.
The group entered through a locked side door and caused significant property damage. A 30-year-old man, believed to be the security guard, suffered minor injuries to his leg after being kicked. During the incident, the teenagers hurled a racial slur at a staff member.
The Church of Scientology condemned the incident. They stated it endangered staff, parishioners, and visitors. They emphasized that their facilities are peaceful spaces designed to welcome visitors. Videos of the incident have circulated on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
This break-in is linked to a growing social media trend known as “Scientology speed running.” This trend involves groups filming themselves entering Scientology properties for online attention. Similar incidents have been reported in Los Angeles, where police are monitoring the trend.
The Church has called for the arrests of the perpetrators for hate crimes. They stated, “Turning them into targets for viral stunts is not journalism, protest or civic activity. It is trespass, harassment, and disruption of religious spaces.” Officials have not confirmed how many participants were involved in similar incidents in Los Angeles.
The investigation into this New York incident is ongoing, and no arrests have been made so far. Observers express concern over the increasing frequency of these actions against religious institutions.
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