SOURCE :- THE AGE NEWS
By Michael Koziol
Washington: Two Israeli embassy workers have been shot dead outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC.
The shooting took place about 9.15 pm on Wednesday (11.15am AEST) in downtown Washington, just blocks from DC police headquarters and steps away from the FBI’s field office. An event for young Jewish diplomats and professionals was taking place at the museum at the time.
Israeli ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said the victims were a young couple engaged to be married. Police said the couple were leaving the event when the shooter approached a group of four people and opened fire.
A 30-year-old Chicago man has been arrested. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said the suspect chanted “free, free Palestine” while in police custody.
She said the man, whom she identified as Elias Rodriguez, was seen “pacing back and forth” outside the museum before the shooting, and entered the museum afterwards, where he was detained by venue security, Smith said.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the couple killed worked at the Israeli embassy in a post on social media platform X.
Police outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington.Credit: abc7chicago
“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 wrote.
US President Donald Trump expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA,” he posted on his platform Truth Social.
“So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”
The event was described online as an “AJC ACCESS Young Diplomats Reception”, aimed at bringing together young Jewish professionals along with the Washington diplomatic community.
“We are devastated that an unspeakable act of violence took place outside the venue,” American Jewish Committee chief executive Ted Deutch said.
“At this moment, as we await more information from the police about exactly what transpired, our attention and our hearts are solely with those who were harmed and their families.”
Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said the shooting was a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism”.
“Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line,” he said on X.
“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.”
US Attorney-General Pam Bondi said she was at the scene and praying for the victims.
Democratic senator Chuck Schumer posted on social media: “This sickening shooting seems to be another horrific instance of anti-Semitism, which, as we know, is all too rampant in our society. I’m praying for those who were killed, all those affected, and their families.”
More to come
