Trump speaks out after two Israeli embassy staff shot dead in Washington DC
Topics: Crime, Donald Trump, Gun Crime, Israel, Racism, US News, Washington
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Featured Image Credit: ALEX WROBLEWSKI/Getty
Topics: Crime, Donald Trump, Gun Crime, Israel, Racism, US News, Washington
Donald Trump has now spoken out on the shooting of two Israeli embassy staff that happened yesterday evening (May 21) in the US Capital.
Two Israeli embassy staff have reportedly been fatally wounded near a Jewish museum in Washington DC after a man 'opened fire' at them, the authorities have confirmed.
The victims, believe to be a young couple, were leaving the museum after an event at around 9.05pm local time on Wednesday, May 21, when they were gunned down 'at close range'.
A suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, Illinois, has been detained by the authorities, reports the BBC.
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In a news conference after the shooting, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said the man was allegedly pacing outside the museum before opening fire.
Smith said the man opened fire at a group of four and injured the couple before he was stopped by security.
It is also alleged that he shouted 'free, free Palestine' after the attack while in custody.
Upon his arrest, she said he 'implied that he committed the offence' and directed cops to where he discarded the weapon.
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."
Now, the US President Donald Trump has spoken out in public condemnation of the murders, and suggested they were driven by anti-Semitic views.
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!"
The tragic news comes as Israeli ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter confirmed the couple killed in the attack had been planning to get engaged.
Leiter said the male victim, whose name has not been released, had purchased a ring earlier this week and had planned to pop the question while on a trip to Jerusalem.
"They were a beautiful couple,” he added.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has also vowed to 'bring this depraved perpetrator to justice' while Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon said the incident was a 'depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism'.
"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."
Israel's President Isaac Herzog also released a statement and described the shooting as 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.