Teens storm Scientology church in New York in latest ‘speed running’ incident

A group of youths forced their way into a Scientology church in New York on Saturday in the latest in a string of nationwide “speed running” incidents that have gone viral on social media in recent weeks. The group broke through a locked door to gain entry to the Church of Scientology on West 36th Street in Manhattan, throwing objects, damaging the property and injuring a staff member as worshippers and visitors attended a seminar, the church said in a statement to the Guardian. The injured member of staff required medical attention, the church said, and another was subjected to a racial slur. “This was not a peaceful visit or lawful protest. It was a coordinated act involving forced entry, property damage, and physical aggression inside a house of worship,” the statement added. It comes as throngs of mostly adolescent boys and young men have been rushing the Church of Scientology’s international headquarters on Hollywood Boulevard in recent weeks , with clips of the so-called “speed runs” amassing millions of views on TikTok. “Some online have referred to these incidents as ‘speed running.’ In reality, they involve organized trespasses into religious and public information facilities for social media attention,” the church said in its statement. “Church facilities are peaceful spaces designed to welcome parishioners, visitors and members of the public. Turning them into targets for viral stunts is not journalism, protest or civic activity. …