Two Israeli embassy staff members have been shot and killed outside an event at the Jewish museum in Washington late on Wednesday, according to law enforcement officials.
The victims — a woman and a man — were gunned down at about 9pm as they were leaving a reception for young diplomats hosted by the American Jewish Committee, a leading Jewish organisation in the US.
Metropolitan Police Department chief Pamela Smith said a suspect was in custody, who officers had “tentatively” identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago.
He chanted “free, free Palestine” while in custody, Smith said.
Tal Naim Cohen, spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in Washington, said the staffers were “shot this evening at close range” in a post on the X social media platform.
She said they had been attending “a Jewish event” at the museum, which is in central Washington, about 2km east of the White House.
“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,” she added.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said he was “devastated” by the killings. “This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism,” he said. “We stand with the Jewish community in DC and across the US.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack and said that security would be stepped up at Israeli embassies around the world.
US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.”
