Missouri: Cars Set On Fire In Suspected Antisemitic Attack

Three cars were set on fire and antisemitic graffiti sprayed on the roadway in the city of Clayton, Missouri in what local police are calling a hate crime, according to a report today (Tuesday) by NPR.

Local police discovered the burning vehicles after 3 AM. No-one was injured or any further threats identified to the Jewish community.

The Jewish Federation of St. Louis, Missouri, together with several other Jewish organizations including the ADL, released the following statement in response to the incident:

"As American Jewish organizations and proud St. Louisans, 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.

"As the just-released FBI 2024 hate crimes report found, Jews were the target of nearly 70 percent of religiously motivated hate crimes in the U.S. and more than 16 percent of all hate crimes nationally.

"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.

"We wish to thank law enforcement for continuing the investigation and providing support to those directly affected. We will continue to invest in protecting our synagogues, schools, and community spaces through our Community Security Team and other initiatives. We call on civic and community leaders to join us in speaking out clearly and forcefully against antisemitism in all its forms."

The STL Jewish Light said that "Police have not shared the contents of the graffiti or information on potential suspects. No arrests have been made as of Tuesday evening.

"The Clayton Police Department said it is pursuing every lead to ensure the individual responsible is held accountable."