American former IDF soldier targeted by ‘horrific antisemitic attack’ in St Louis

"I'm certainly not going to tolerate it as the head of the task force," he added. "So once I saw it, I immediately contacted the FBI."

"I looked at the footage, found it offensive and called the FBI, sent them the information and made sure Attorney-General Bondi was aware of everything," he said. "The FBI, I cannot disclose what happened, but they are on the ground along with local authorities, and the perpetrators are going to face justice."

On social media, Terrell wrote that he spoke directly with the family whose property was attacked. "I am outraged. Antisemitic violence has no place in America, not in St Louis and not anywhere," he wrote. "If you commit antisemitic hate crimes, you will be caught, and you will be held accountable."

Corporal Jenny Schwartz, community services and public information officer at the Clayton Police Department, which is adjacent to St. Louis, told JNS that the department is "still actively investigating the suspicious fire and hateful message" found on the residential street.

"We are working diligently to identify the individual or individuals responsible for this act, and urge anyone with information that may assist in our investigation to contact the Clayton Detective Bureau," she said.

The Clayton Police Department stated that it was probing a "suspicious fire and hate crime". No injuries were reported.

The department stated that it believes that the victim, who lives in Clayton, was "specifically targeted". It is investigating the incident as a hate crime.

"There are no indications of any further threat to the community," it added. "The FBI and the St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Unit have been requested to assist with the investigation."

Meanwhile, asked how he would respond to the claim that the attack targeted the man because he fought in the Israeli military and not because he's Jewish, Terrell said: “I find that hypothetical applicable to this situation – I want to make sure you hear this – offensive. Why? You can say whatever you want. Look at the video. Look at the burning. Look at the vehicle. Look at the property damage.

"This is the biggest problem that people have had – conflating First Amendment speech with illegal conduct.

"First Amendment speech, whether it is anti-Israel or antisemitic, is thrown out the window when you have that type of conduct. It's criminal."

"This is pure, unadulterated hate," he said.