In an attack carried out outside a Jewish museum in the capital, two employees of Israel’s embassy in the country were killed.
Authorities say the deadly shooting took place on Wednesday at around 9 p.m. (01:00 GMT, Thursday) close to the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC.
Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, Illinois, was the only suspect in the shooting, according to Pamela A. Smith, the chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.
“The suspect was spotted pacing back and forth outside the museum prior to the shooting.” At a press conference, Smith said, “He approached a group of four people, produced a handgun, and opened fire, striking both of our decedents.”
Rodriguez allegedly chanted “Free, free, Palestine” while Smith was being held.
A possible motive for the attack was not provided by Smith.
Mayor of Washington, DC, Muriel Bowser, stated to reporters that “violence or hate in our city” would not be tolerated.
In the coming days and weeks, we will stand together as a community to send a strong message that we will not tolerate anti-Semitism, according to Bowser.
Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the US, claimed the deceased were a “beautiful couple” who had planned to wed.
According to Leiter, “The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend in Jerusalem the following week.”
The American Jewish Committee, which had hosted a museum event, expressed shock that something violent happened while the museum was open.
Our focus and hearts are now solely with those who were hurt and their families, according to the organization. We are awaiting more information from the police about exactly what happened.
Donald Trump, the president of the United States, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and said the killings were “apparently motivated by antisemitism.”
Trump claimed on Truth Social that “hatred and radicalism have no place in the United States.” Condolences to the victims’ families. How disappointing that things like this can occur! God bless you all, “!
Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security for the US, stated that the federal government would look into the attack and would prosecute its “depraved perpetrator.”
As we seek answers, US Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated that she was present at the scene of the shooting and was “praying for the victims of this violence.”
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, described the shooting as a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.”
Danon claimed that harming the Jewish community is “crossing the red line.”
“We have faith that the US authorities will vigorously prosecute those responsible for this criminal act.” Everywhere in the world, Israel will continue to vehemently defend its citizens and representatives.
Source: Aljazeera
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