A throng of boisterous teenagers descended upon a Scientology church in New York City on Saturday afternoon, wreaking havoc and injuring a security guard amidst a series of similar viral pranks sweeping the nation, according to police and other sources.
The group, estimated to be around 50 strong, charged through a side entrance of the Church of Scientology located just off Times Square on West 46th Street at approximately 4:24 p.m. They caused significant damage to the property, as reported by the NYPD and law enforcement insiders.
During the chaos, the teens assaulted a 30-year-old man believed to be a security guard, kicking him in the leg and inflicting minor injuries.
After the disturbance, the teens scattered in various directions, police noted.
As the investigation remains ongoing, no arrests have been made.
Attempts to reach Church of Scientology representatives for a comment were unsuccessful, and building employees chose not to speak on the matter.
The Midtown incident comes as a bizarre new TikTok trend — dubbed “Scientology speed running” — has seen thrill-seeking influencers and troublemakers filming themselves charging into properties owned or tied to the Church of Scientology since early April.
The reckless social media craze, erupting across Los Angeles, has sparked security fears for the church, which teaches followers that humans are immortal spiritual beings called “thetans” with limitless power.
The religion, founded in the 1950s by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard, is built on a system of beliefs, teachings, and rituals focused on spiritual betterment, with his book “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health” serving as its foundational text.
Hollywood has long fueled the church’s visibility, largely due to high-profile members like actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta, who have served as its most recognizable public supporters.
Other well-known members of the church have included actresses Elisabeth Moss, Catherine Bell, Jenna Elfman, and Nancy Cartwright, best known as the voice of Bart Simpson on “The Simpsons.”
