Two people familiar with the investigation said a suspect believed to be the shooter is in custody. Two sources said the shooter yelled “free Palestine” prior to the shooting
Two Israeli Embassy staff members were shot and killed on Wednesday night outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, officials said, according to local media. “Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC,” US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem posted on X social media platform. Law enforcement sources said that two people were shot as they exited an event at the museum. The shooting occurred at around 9:15 p.m. local time near an FBI office building on F Street, according to the news outlet.
The Israeli ambassador was not involved in the incident and was not at the location when the shooting happened, an embassy spokesperson said. US Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on social media that she and acting US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro have arrived at the scene of the shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum.
Two people familiar with the investigation said a suspect believed to be the shooter is in custody. Two sources said the shooter yelled “free Palestine” prior to the shooting. US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee took to X to post, “Horrific act of terror that the people of Israel are waking up to this morning. AG Pam Bondi called to let me know and was at the scene. 2 dead in shooting targeting Israeli embassy staffers outside Jewish Museum in Washington DC,”
Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, also wrote in a social media post that the shooting occurred “outside the event that took place at the Jewish Museum.” Danon wrote that two other Israeli Embassy employees were wounded in the shooting, but that number has not been confirmed by authorities.
“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,” Danon posted on X.
Ben Williamson, an FBI spokesperson, posted to X that FBI personnel were responding to assist the Metropolitan Police Department with the situation. “There is no ongoing threat to public safety,” the FBI Washington Field Office wrote on X.
Spokesperson at the Israeli embassy in Washington Tal Naim Cohen posted, “Two staff members of the Israeli embassy were shot this evening at close range while attending a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC. We have full faith in law enforcement authorities on both the local and federal levels to apprehend the shooter and protect Israel’s representatives and Jewish communities throughout the United States.”
Trump condemns “horrible killings”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump condemned the “horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism”. In a post on the Truth Social social media platform, Trump said, “Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said America and Israel “will stand united in defence of our people and our shared values” following the attack.
In a statement on X, Herzog stated, “I am devastated by the scenes in Washington DC,” Herzog wrote in a statement on X. “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,” the Israeli president’s statement read.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a post on X said, “We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share,” adding, “We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice.”
Washington, DC, Police Chief Pamela Smith in a press conference late Wednesday, said, “Despite all life-saving efforts, both victims succumbed to their injuries,” Smith said. “The attack occurred as the victims were exiting the museum. A suspect had been seen pacing outside shortly beforehand.”
