A swarm of teenagers turned the Church of Scientology near Times Square into the latest backdrop for a viral stunt on Saturday afternoon, rushing the building in what witnesses and staff described as a social media "speed run" gone real. Church officials reported property damage and at least one person injured, while police said an investigation is underway.
According to the New York Post, roughly 50 teens pushed in through a side entrance at about 4:24 p.m., then scattered through the building before bolting back out. Police told the outlet that no arrests had been made. The Post also reported that a 30-year-old man was kicked and suffered a minor leg injury, and that staff said portions of the interior were damaged. The church did not immediately respond to the paper’s request for comment.
How the 'Speed Running' Trend Started
The stunt, often dubbed "Scientology speed running," kicked off in Los Angeles in early April, with participants filming themselves sprinting through Scientology buildings as if they were beating levels in a video game. The Los Angeles Times reported that viral videos show masked or costumed people forcing doors and racing up stairwells, clips that have drawn millions of views. Church officials told the Times that the runs amount to organized trespassing that has damaged property and put staff at risk.
Church and Police Response on Both Coasts
Church spokespeople said they were "reviewing all available remedies" after "dozens of individuals" forced their way into church facilities, according to The Guardian. In Los Angeles, the LAPD told reporters it received multiple trespass complaints and assigned Major Crimes detectives to investigate at least one large incident as a possible hate crime. Church statements said staff members were knocked down during some of the chaos and that external door handles were removed at several Hollywood locations in an effort to discourage more runs.
Reactions have been split. Some current and former members, along with outside onlookers, have treated the runs as prank-style protest or unsanctioned exposure of the church. Critics, including actress Leah Remini, have warned that these confrontational stunts could backfire and drive members deeper into the fold, Fox News notes. In response, affected sites have tightened security, adding more guards, locked doors and other measures. Authorities in Los Angeles and New York have urged anyone with relevant footage to preserve it for investigators.
Legal Angle: Trespass, Assault and Possible Hate-Crime Questions
Under New York law, a hate-crime enhancement applies only if prosecutors can show that an offense was committed "in whole or in substantial part" because of the victim’s religion or another protected characteristic, as outlined in New York Penal Law §485.05 and explained by Cornell Law School. Even without a bias finding, behavior involving forced entry, damage or physical contact could still bring charges such as trespass, criminal mischief or assault. Similar incidents in Los Angeles led to a referral to the LAPD’s Major Crimes unit, according to The Guardian.
In Manhattan, police reiterated that no arrests had been made and that detectives were pursuing leads, the New York Post reported. For now, the Times Square incident is the latest sign that a Hollywood-born viral stunt has jumped coasts and helped trigger tighter security at religious sites.
