On Monday, a man from Massachusetts pleaded guilty to charges that he threatened to kill Jews and bomb a synagogue. U.S. officials said the case showed how antisemitism has grown across the country since the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza started last year.
On January 10, John Reardon left a message at the Congregation Agudas Achim in Attleboro, Massachusetts, threatening to bomb the building and kill children. He later admitted to these crimes in federal court in Boston.
Garland, the U.S. attorney general, said in a statement, “This defendant’s threats to bomb synagogues and kill Jewish children made people even more afraid at a time when Jews are already facing an uptick in disturbing threats.”
A Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, killed about 1,200 Israelis and started the war in Gaza. After that, the number of threats went up. According to Gaza officials, Israel’s 13-month operation in the enclave has killed more than 44,000 people and forced almost everyone to move at least once.
During his two-minute voicemail, Reardon, 59, is said to have said: “You do realize that by supporting genocide that means it’s OK for people to commit genocide against you, right?”
Court records show that Reardon called another synagogue in Sharon, Massachusetts, a few minutes later and left a voicemail threatening to “kill all Jews” and “stomp their babies dead into the ground.”
Police say he made 98 calls to the Israeli consulate in Boston starting in October 2023, and he admitted that he did make threats during those calls. He also admitted to stalking during those calls.
After Reardon was arrested in January, police learned about those calls. Prosecutors say that in many of those calls, he said things that were rude or scary.
As part of a plea deal, prosecutors have agreed to suggest that Reardon, from Millis, Massachusetts, get up to 2 1/2 years in jail. His punishment date was set for August 14 by U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick.
