A man from Millis, Massachusetts, recently admitted in federal court to making violent threats against Jewish communities and places of worship. This unsettling series of events took place earlier this year, with the man, identified as Reardon, targeting two synagogues and the Israeli Consulate in Boston.
The trouble began on the morning of January 25, 2024. Reardon called a synagogue in Attleboro, Congregation Agudas Achim, and left a voicemail filled with threatening and hateful remarks. Just minutes later, he made another call to a synagogue in Sharon and left a similarly disturbing message.
Law enforcement acted swiftly, arresting Reardon shortly after the calls. But that wasn’t the end of the story. Investigators later uncovered that Reardon had been relentlessly calling the Israeli Consulate in Boston. Over the span of a few months, from October 7, 2023, to January 29, 2024, he made a staggering 98 calls, often using intimidating and harassing language.
While the press release didn’t dive into the specifics of Reardon’s threats, an FBI affidavit sheds light on some of his alarming statements. In the voicemail to the Attleboro synagogue, he used phrases like “From the river to the sea” and said things such as, “If you can kill Palestinians, we can kill you,” and “If you bomb their places of worship, we can bomb yours.” He also made chilling remarks about harming children and ending Israel.
In the voicemail left for the Sharon synagogue, the tone was no less terrifying. He reportedly talked about “killing all Jews” and “stomping their babies dead into the ground.” These hateful words painted a disturbing picture of his intentions.
Reardon has pleaded guilty to three charges: making threats to the two synagogues and harassing and intimidating staff at the Israeli Consulate. It’s clear from the details that his actions caused significant fear and distress among those he targeted.
This case is a sobering reminder of the importance of standing against hate and threats of violence in all forms. The legal proceedings aim to bring accountability and justice for the affected communities.
