Two Israeli embassy staff, a man and a woman, were killed outside a Jewish museum in downtown Washington DC, according to US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The shooting happened at 21:05 local time around 3rd and F Streets NW, an area with numerous tourist sites, museums and government buildings, including an FBI’s Washington field office, reports BBC.
Reports indicate that multiple employees of the Israeli embassy were at a museum event at the time of the shooting.
“We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share,” Noem posted on X. “Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice.”
“Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line,” Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon wrote on X. “We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act.”
The victims’ names have not been released.
The Capital Jewish Museum like many other Jewish institutions in the US has struggled with security issues amid rising antisemitism.