The FBI is prepared to investigate after a woman said her Jewish son with autism came home from school with a swastika carved into his back, NBC news reported Saturday.
“We are aware of the incident and are in regular contact with local authorities. If during the local investigation, information comes to light of a potential federal civil rights violation, the FBI is prepared to investigate,” the agency said in a statement acquired by the outlet.
The mother, who asked to remain anonymous, says her 17-year-old is a senior at Clark High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is nonverbal, has a full time attendant while at school, and uses a service dog. COL Live reported.
“My son is the only student I know of who wears a kippah at the school,” the boy’s mother told the outlet.
A kippah, sometimes called a yarmulke or skullcap, is a headcovering Jewish people wear as a sign of respect and reference for God.
The mother noticed the hateful symbol carved or scratched into the skin of her son’s back March 9. She notified the school that evening and filed a report with the Clark County School District Police March 13. She has since pulled him out of school, Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
The boy’s attendant reportedly told the mother than “nothing happened at school.” The mother says there is no video evidence because the school does not allow video cameras in classrooms, locker rooms, or bathrooms, COL Live also reported.
Jolie Brislin, executive director of the Anti Defamation League of Nevada told KTNV the incident was “probably one of the most egregious [she had] seen.”
“And it’s not only because the student was targeted because of their identifiable faith, but also because of the vulnerability due to his disability.”
ADL of Nevada is in close contact with the parents, the school, and law enforcement, Brislin said in a statement. She added that the organization was partnering with Jewish Nevada and Secure Community Network to provide the school with antisemitism education.
A statement from the school said police investigated the incident, but found no evidence that shed light on the origin of the injuries, Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The statement said the investigation included interviews with staff and review of camera footage.
“The Israeli-American Council was appalled to learn that a Jewish teen may have been targeted in such an inhumane antisemitic attack,” said Shoham Nicolet, IAC’s co-founder and CEO, in a statement acquired by LVRJ.
“We urge authorities to investigate this incident to the fullest.”
Watch KTNV’s coverage of the disturbing incident below.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!