An antisemitic message was carved into the side of a car at a home in Stow, Massachusetts, over the weekend, according to Stow police, and it seems the vandal may have also tried to set the house on fire.
Police said officers were called to a home on North Shore Drive for the report around 9:45 a.m. Saturday. There they found the slur carved into the side of one of two cars. Both vehicles also had their tires slashed, and there were what police described as fresh burn marks on part of the home.
The couple who live in the home are in their 50s and have lived there for around seven years. The road has very little traffic. The couple is not Jewish, and police don't currently have any suspects.
"I don’t believe it was a targeted attack. I don’t believe that the individuals had anything directed towards them they can’t think of who could have done this to them," Stow Police Chief Michael Sallese said.
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He added that the victims were very upset and they puhsed the information out to the neighborhood.
The town will have a vigil with faith leaders at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the town center to show support and condemn the hateful act.
There has been a notable increase in antisemitic incidents in New England and across the country.
In April The Anti-Defamation League released its annual audit of antisemitic incidents, which compiled reports of assaults, harassment and vandalism against Jewish people in 2021. The 42% spike in New England outpaced a 34% increase nationwide.
More recently, rapper Ye, also known as Kanye West, has been the center of a national controversy after a series of antisemitic tweets.
More on antisemitism
The incident in Stow remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Stow Police Detectives at 978-897-4545.
