An American who served in the Israel Defense Forces was the target of an antisemitic attack in which an assailant set fire to three cars and graffitied “Death to the IDF” outside the victim’s home in the St. Louis suburbs.
Clayton police said they found antisemitic graffiti and the burned-out cars after they were called about a vehicle fire at about 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Another one of the spray-painted messages accused the victim of being a murderer, authorities said.
Police said they’re investigating the attack as a hate crime since they believe the fires were intentionally set.
No injuries were reported from the blaze and no suspect has been taken into custody, but police said they believe the attack was carried out by one person.
Clayton Mayor Bridget McAndrew, in a social media post Tuesday, called the incident “an offensive and violent act of arson.”
“We will not tolerate harassment, intimidation or violence based on someone’s nationality, race, religion or ideology,” her statement went on.
The incident also caught the eye of the Justice Department, which said it’s getting the FBI involved.
“I am outraged. Antisemitic violence has no place in America, not in St. Louis and not anywhere,” Leo Terrell, the DOJ’s chair on a task force to combat antisemitism, posted on X. “We will pursue every avenue to bring the perpetrators to justice. If you commit antisemitic hate crimes, you will be caught. And you will be held accountable.”
Mr. Terrell said he called the family to say the Justice Department was joining the investigation.
The FBI’s annual Crimes in the Nation report published Tuesday showed that 69% of religious-based hate crimes in 2024 were directed at Jews. Jewish Americans were also targeted in about 16% of all hate crimes nationwide last year. Hate crimes overall fell 1.5% in 2024.
