Two Israeli embassy employees had been killed in a taking pictures exterior an occasion on the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, on Wednesday (Could 21) night time, in keeping with officers and media stories.
A person and a girl had been shot and killed within the space of third and F streets in Northwest, which is close to the museum, an FBI area workplace and the US legal professional’s workplace, in keeping with the stories.
“Two Israeli Embassy employees had been senselessly killed tonight close to the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC,” Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in a put up on X.
FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned he and his workforce had been briefed on the taking pictures.
“Whereas we’re working with [Metropolitan Police Department] to reply and be taught extra, within the speedy, please pray for the victims and their households,” he wrote on X.
A single suspect, recognized as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, is in custody, Washington police chief Pamela Smith mentioned. Rodriguez was seen pacing exterior the museum earlier than the taking pictures. He was later detained by occasion safety.
The suspect chanted “Free, free Palestine” whereas in custody, the police chief added.
Following the incident, Washington mayor Muriel Bowser mentioned that there was no lively menace within the metropolis.
Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, referred to as the taking pictures “a wicked act of anti-Semitic terrorism”.
“Harming diplomats and the Jewish neighborhood is crossing a crimson line,” Danon mentioned in a put up on X.
“We’re assured that the US authorities will take robust motion in opposition to these chargeable for this legal act.”
US President Donald Trump referred to as the taking pictures “horrible”, including that it was “primarily based clearly on antisemitism”.
“Hatred and Radicalism don’t have any place within the USA,” the president mentioned in a put up on social media platform Fact Social.
“Condolences to the households of the victims. So mentioned that things like this will occur!”
The victims had been a younger couple who had been engaged to be married, mentioned Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the US.
He added that he spoke to Trump after the taking pictures.
A heavy police presence was seen on the scene as authorities cordoned off streets and redirected site visitors.
Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi and US Lawyer for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro had been on the scene of the taking pictures.
