Shooting near Jewish museum in Washington kills Israeli embassy staff
Two staff members of the Israeli embassy were killed in Washington, D.C., after attending an event at the Capitol Jewish Museum, with the shooter allegedly shouting, "Free Palestine," upon arrest.
President Donald Trump and his administration condemned the attack. Trump posted on social media, stating, "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, now! Hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA."
"The evil of antisemitism must be eradicated from our society," said Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary.
Pam Bondi, U.S. attorney general, said, "I saw a young man's body being taken away, who was about to get engaged. He had an entire life in front of him, and that was taken away. The hate has got to stop, and it has to stop now, and this person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Local police reported that the suspect shot and killed the two embassy staff members as they were leaving the event.
The White House noted that antisemitic acts have been on the rise recently. The FBI deputy director said, "Early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence." The U.S. attorney's office in Washington will be prosecuting the case.
The White House confirmed that Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the shooting. Netanyahu's office described the incident as "the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against Israel."
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.