Two staff members of the Israeli embassy were shot dead on Wednesday evening as they were leaving an event at a Jewish museum in Washington DC, said police. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference that the two victims, a man and a woman, were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the 30-year-old suspect approached a group of four people and opened fire.
Suspect yelled 'free, free Palestine'
The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, was seen pacing outside the museum prior to the shooting. After opening fire and fatally shooting the two Israeli embassy staff members, he walked into the museum, Smith said.
When he was taken into custody, the man began chanting, "free, free Palestine," Smith said.
Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter said the two people killed were a young couple about to be engaged, saying the man had purchased a ring this week with the intent to propose next week in Jerusalem.
Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA: Trump
US President Donald Trump condemned the incident and said that hatred and radicalism have no place in the United States.
"These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!" said Trump.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the deaths in a post on X after the shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum, which is located steps away from the FBI's field office in the nation's capital. "Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC. We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share. Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice," she said.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said that she, along with acting US attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro, has arrived at the scene of the shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum.
Act of anti-Semitic terrorism
Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, condemned the incident and termed it a "depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism". In a post on X, he said, "The fatal shooting that took place outside the event that took place at the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC is a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism."
"The fatal shooting that took place outside the event that took place at the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. is a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism. Harming the Jewish community is crossing a red line. We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives – everywhere in the world," he said.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was devastated by the scenes in Washington. "This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives of two young employees of the Israeli embassy. Our hearts are with the loved ones of those murdered and our immediate prayers are with the injured. I send my full support to the Ambassador and all the embassy staff. We stand with the Jewish community in DC and across the US. America and Israel will stand united in defence of our people and our shared values. Terror and hate will not break us," he said.
(With AP inputs)
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