Antisemitic messages displayed on hacked billboards in Chicago suburb

Chicago commuters were met with multiple hacked electronic billboards that had brazen anti-Israel messages .

On Wednesday billboards just off the Edens Spur Tollroad in Northbrook displayed the messages "F--- ISRAEL," while another displayed the message, "DEATH TO ISRAEL." Both billboards had a Palestinian flag in the background. The messages were first reported at around 5:30pm, when many commuters were leaving work and students were leaving school, FOX 32 Chicago reported.

Congressman Brad Schneider said the timing and locations of the billboards was no coincidence. "Where these signs are, it’s a community with a large Jewish population, and tonight is the beginning of the Jewish holiday Sukkot," Schneider told FOX 32 Chicago. "Whoever did this had an intentionality about it that was clearly antisemitic ."

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Schneider contacted local police and reached out to the media company that owns the billboards, OUTFRONT Media, and asked for the messages to be taken down immediately as well as for answers as to how they went up in the first place.

"It had to be a shock [to drivers]. One of the ones that caught my attention is someone said they had their kids in the car, their little kids, but old enough to read. You know, these are big billboard signs, and how do you explain that to a young person?" Schneider said.

Northbrook police launched an investigation and were able to determine the messages were not authorized by OUTFRONT Media, suggesting they were hacked. OUTFRONT Media said they are aware of the incident and are investigating.

The hacked billboards also read: "Paid for by Mr. Beast LLC." MrBeast is a popular YouTuber with over 321 million followers. He denied involvement. "MrBeast did not pay for this billboard and after being made aware of its existence, we contacted our attorneys and the authorities about how to have it immediately removed," a spokesperson for the YouTuber told FOX 32 Chicago.

The two billboards displaying the hateful messages were up for at least an hour before being totally shut off by OUTFRONT Media. at 7p.m. The Village of Northbrook said the messages were antisemitic and said they stand with the Jewish community.

"The sign was displaying a series of antisemitic messages and upon investigation it was determined that the billboard company had not displayed the messages. Company representatives worked quickly and collaboratively to remove the unauthorized messages from the electronic signage," the village said.

"The Northbrook Village Board unequivocally condemns anti-Semitism and all acts of hate speech. We stand together with the Jewish community, family members, friends and neighbors. Northbrook is an inclusive community and welcomes all."

Northbrook police said no further information was immediately available and the investigation is ongoing.