Nazi flags and Germanic military crosses were graffitied onto a building used by a Jewish community in the United States this weekend in an attack condemned by US Vice President Mike Pence.

It was discovered on property belonging to the Shaarey Tefilla synagogue in Carmel, Indiana, on Saturday morning.

One brick wall featured a black swastika in a circle on red background, similar to the flag used by the Nazi regime.

An black Iron Cross — the military decoration widely used by Prussia and Germany until the end of the Second World War — was spray-painted on either side.

The American Jewish Committee said the attack was not an isolated incident and called on senators to broaden hate legislation to include protection for houses of worship.

Mr Pence tweeted he was "Sickened and appalled by the cowardly act of vandalism at Congregation Shaarey Tefilla; a beautiful synagogue in Carmel, Indiana where I have many good friends."

Sickened and appalled by the cowardly act of vandalism at Congregation Shaarey Tefilla; a beautiful synagogue in Carmel, Indiana where I have many good friends. Those responsible must be held accountable. These vile acts of anti-Semitism must end. https://t.co/0h6rKPilda

— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) July 29, 2018

He added: "Those responsible must be held accountable. These vile acts of anti-Semitism must end." 

A statement by the Indiana Jewish Community Relations Council said an investigation was underway.

According to a 2017 study there were around 17,900 living in Indiana, one of the smaller populations in the United States.