Latest news with #BridgetMcAndrew
Fox News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
FBI investigating 'horrific antisemitic attack' on American who served in Israeli army
The FBI is investigating a "horrific antisemitic attack" that happened in Clayton, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. The target of the attack was an American citizen who served with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Just after 3 a.m. on Aug. 5, officers from the Clayton Police Department (CPD) arrived at the scene where three vehicles were set on fire outside the home of the unnamed American citizen. The words "DEATH TO THE IDF" were also spray-painted in the driveway. Officials are treating the incident as a hate crime and believe the fires were set intentionally. "Anyone who's going to make an attack on Jewish Americans, you can expect criminal charges, unlike the previous administration," Leo Terrell, who leads the DOJ Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, told Fox News. He later vowed on X that the Trump administration would ensure that "those who commit antisemitic hate crimes will be brought to justice. Zero tolerance for Jew hatred in America!" Clayton Mayor Bridget McAndrew condemned the attack on Tuesday, saying the city would "not tolerate harassment, intimidation, or violence based on someone's nationality, race, religion, or ideology." "The attack on a Jewish family in St. Louis is yet another example of politically and ideologically motivated violence that should concern everyone. Upon learning of the incident, the embassy alerted Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the United States Department of Justice, Attorney Leo Terrell, who is aggressively implementing a policy of zero tolerance for anti-Israel violence and violent rhetoric," a spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in D.C. told Fox News Digital. While hate crimes dropped slightly in 2024, according to FBI data, anti-Jewish hate crimes hit a new high. The bureau recorded 11,679 hate crime incidents in 2024 versus 11,862 in 2023. Even though Jews make up approximately 2% of the U.S. population, according to Pew research, FBI data indicates that 16% of all hate crimes and nearly 70% of all religion-based hate crimes were anti-Jewish. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also keeps track of antisemitic incidents, documenting a total of 9,354 in 2024, the highest number on record since it began tabulating in 1979. The difference between the ADL's and FBI's numbers is due to the ADL's inclusion of non-criminal acts, while the bureau only counts criminal incidents. The Trump administration has focused on combating rising antisemitism in the U.S. through its establishment of the task force led by Terrell. Additionally, the administration has worked to penalize universities that it says did not adequately handle antisemitism on their campuses.
Fox News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Authorities probe antisemitic attack involving arson, threatening graffiti in Midwest city: 'Violent acts'
Local and federal detectives are investigating what they call a hate crime after discovering antisemitic graffiti on the roadway and multiple vehicles damaged by fire in Missouri. The Clayton Police Department said officers responded to a scene at about 3 a.m. Tuesday, and found three vehicles had been damaged by a fire, which they believe was intentionally set. While there were no injuries reported in the incident, the officers located antisemitic graffiti on a city roadway near St. Louis. Police said the incident is being investigated as a hate crime, adding that a preliminary investigation suggests the victim was specifically targeted. The FBI and St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Unit responded to the scene to assist with the investigation. Local news station First Alert 4 reported that its drone captured video of the graffiti, which the station reported read, "Death to the IDF." The station also noted that part of the message was directed at an individual. Clayton Mayor Bridget McAndrew said "an offensive and violent act of arson" had occurred in the city, targeting a Clayton resident. "We will not tolerate harassment, intimidation, or violence based on someone's nationality, race, religion, or ideology," she said in a statement posted to the city's Facebook page. "In Clayton, we are committed to fostering a community where every resident feels safe, valued, and welcome. "This is not just an aspiration—it is our responsibility as neighbors and as citizens," McAndrew continued. "As such, I call upon all Clayton residents to join me in embracing the principles of respect, understanding, and inclusion that define who we are as a community." Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said on X that she had been briefed about the reported "car bombings" in St. Louis and alleged antisemitic vandalism. "Our office intends to hold the perpetrators accountable for these violent acts," she said. Also weighing in was the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, which condemned the attacks. "As American Jewish organizations and proud St. Louisans, we condemn in the strongest terms the attack on members of our community last night," the federation said. "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 investigation into the matter is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Clayton Police Department Detective Bureau at 314-290-8414.
