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Israeli Embassy Staffers Killed In D.C. Shooting; Trump Urges End To ‘Hatred And Radicalism’
The killing of two Israeli embassy employees in the US capital yesterday evening (May 21) has now been addressed by Donald Trump.
Authorities have confirmed that two Israeli embassy employees were critically wounded after a guy ‘opened fire’ on them close to a Jewish museum in Washington, DC.
On Wednesday, May 21, at approximately 9.05 p.m. local time, the victims—who were thought to be a young couple—were shot and killed “at close range” as they were leaving the museum following an event.
Authorities have detained a suspect, identified as Chicago, Illinois resident Elias Rodriguez, 30, according to the BBC.
Pamela Smith, the chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, stated at a press conference following the incident that the suspect was apparently pacing outside the museum prior to shooting.
Smith claimed that before security intervened, the man shot at a party of four, injuring the couple.
In detention following the attack, he is allegedly accused of yelling ‘free, free Palestine’.
She added he ‘implied that he committed the offence’ when he was arrested and pointed police officers to the location where he threw the firearm.
Smith said cops had no previous history with the suspect, adding, “We don’t see anything in his background that would have placed him on our radar.”
President Donald Trump of the United States has publicly denounced the killings and implied that anti-Semitic sentiments were the motivation behind them.
Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!”
“Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.”
He added, “Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”
Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the US, stated that the couple slain in the incident had been intending to get engaged, which is heartbreaking news.
According to Leiter, the unnamed male victim had intended to pop the question while travelling to Jerusalem and had bought a ring earlier this week.
“They were a beautiful couple,” he added.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, described the incident as a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism,” and US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has pledged to “bring this depraved perpetrator to justice.”
“Harming diplomats and 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.”
In a statement, Israeli President Isaac Herzog also called the shooting a “despicable act of hatred” and anti-Semitism.
“America and Israel will stand united in defence of our people and our shared values. Terror and hate will not break us,” he added in a post on Twitter.
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