Graffiti spray-painted at the home of an IDF veteran in Clayton, Missouri. Photo: Screenshot

Police in Clayton, Missouri, with the help of US federal agents, are investigating an attack at the home of an unnamed US citizen who served in the Israel Defense Force (IDF) as a hate crime.

Law enforcement arrived on the scene at 3 am on Tuesday to discover three burning cars, believed to be set intentionally, and the antisemitic slogan “Death to the IDF” spray-painted on the street. They later released a statement that there did not appear to be “any further threat to the community.”

Leo Terrell, senior counsel at the US Department of Justice and chair of its Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, released a statement about the crimes on X.

“Today the Israeli Embassy alerted me to a horrific antisemitic attack in St. Louis. An American citizen who served in the IDF returned to his family home. Soon after, he and his family were targeted,” Terrell posted. “I reviewed graphic footage of vehicles belonging to the family and their friends. The vehicles were set on fire and destroyed. Hateful graffiti outside the family’s home accused him of being a murderer and called for death to the IDF.”

Terrell said that following learning of the violence he “immediately contacted the FBI, which is engaging the St. Louis team, and alerted Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office. I also spoke directly with the family, so they know that the DOJ Task Force to Combat Antisemitism is on this 24/7. I am outraged. Antisemitic violence has no place in America, not in St. Louis and not anywhere. 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.”

Police told First Alert 4 that they suspect one individual started the fires but did not know if they had any accomplices.

Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Justice Department, wrote on X that “I’ve been briefed about the reported car bombings in St. Louis and alleged antisemitic vandalism.” She said that “our office intends to hold the perpetrators accountable for these violent acts.”

Clayton’s Mayor Bridget McAndrew denounced the crime and said in a statement on Facebook that the city “has dedicated extensive resources and brought in regional law enforcement partners, as well as the FBI, in order to find those responsible for this repulsive act. As always, our police department is committed to protecting the safety of every member of our community. We will not tolerate harassment, intimidation, or violence based on someone’s nationality, race, religion, or ideology. In Clayton, we are committed to fostering a community where every resident feels safe, valued, and welcome.”

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) – St. Louis, Anti-Defamation League (ADL) – Heartland, Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of St. Louis, Jewish Federation of St. Louis, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) St. Louis, and St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum released a joint statement on Tuesday following the alleged hate crimes.

“As American Jewish organizations and proud St. Louisians, we condemn in the strongest terms the attack on members of our community last night. This is more than vandalism; it is a hateful act of intimidation and only the latest example of what happens when antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric are normalized,” the groups said. “We are a resilient community, and we will not be deterred in our quest to uproot antisemitism and hatred, alone and with our partners. Antisemitism is a social ill that must be rejected by all of society.”

The Missouri attack comes just after the release of data from the FBI showing that antisemitic hate crimes hit a record high of 1,938 last year, an increase of 5.8 percent from 2023 and a total of 69 percent of all religion-based hate crimes.

Jordan Kadosh, the regional director of ADL Heartland, said following the attack that “when you hear somebody say ‘globalize the intifada this is what it looks like. It looks like burned out cars on suburban streets in America. This is not confined. When somebody says they want to take this fight to Jews around the world they mean everywhere.”

Kadosh added, “This is not going to deter us. Our resilience is not going to be pushed down. It is only going to grow stronger. We are not going to go anywhere. We are American Jews. We’re here for the long haul. We are still a part of this country, and we will speak up and use our voice. We are not going to live quietly because other people think we shouldn’t be here.”