An armed man shouted “Palestine free” when he was arrested in front of the museum
A man and woman, employees of the Israeli embassy in the United States, were shot deadly on Wednesday night at the Washington Jewish Museum, authorities said.
“Two employees of the Israeli embassy were meaningless tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC (…) we are actively investigating and working for more information to share,” said US internal security secretary Kristi Noem in a statement published on social network X.
Police in the US capital, who are recommending to the population to avoid the area surrounding the museum, said they are investigating the attack, in front of the FBI local office, and working with the Israeli embassy.
According to US broadcaster NBC News, an armed man shouted “Palestine free” when he was detained in front of the museum.
At least one of the victims had initially been transported to a local hospital in critical condition, local media said.
“These horrible murders in Washington, obviously motivated by anti -Semitism, have to end now!” Reacted today on Truth Social social network, US President Donald Trump.
“Hate and radicalism have no place in the United States,” he added.
Israeli’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, classified the attack as a “perverse act of anti -Semitic terrorism” in an X publication.
“Harming the Jewish community is to overcome the limits. We are confident that US authorities will repress those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act with determination to protect their citizens and representatives around the world,” Danon said.
United States Attorney General Pam Bondi also said, on social network X, that she moved to the scene with Jeanine Ferris Pirro, the Assistant Attorney General of Columbia district.
“We pray for the victims of this violence while we work to learn more about what happened,” said Bondi.
The executive director of the American Jewish Committee (American Jewish Committee), Ted Deutch, told US broadcaster ABC that this group organized an event at the museum on Wednesday night.
“We are devastated by a heinous act of violence that occurred outside the enclosure. At this time, while we await more police information about what happened, our attention and our hearts are with the victims and their families,” added Deutch.
