President Donald Trump has weighed in on the shooting that claimed the lives of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC yesterday evening (Wednesday, May 21).
The incident, which took place close to a Jewish museum in the US capital, saw the pair mortally wounded after a gunman “opened fire”.
According to reports, the victims – believed to be a young couple – were leaving the museum at 9:05 p.m. local time following an event, only to be gunned down “at close range”.
Details are still light concerning the shooting, but authorities have identified Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old man from Chicago, as a suspect.
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith claimed in a press conference held after the incident that the suspect was pacing outside the museum before turning his gun on a group of four which included the aforementioned couple.
He was ultimately stopped by security, but not before fatally wounding two of his victims.
In the wake of the attack, having been placed in police custody, the suspect is reported to have shouted “free, free Palestine.” Chief Smith said that he “implied that he committed the offense” after being arrested, as well as directing police to where he discarded the weapon.
President Donald Trump has now spoken out on the shooting, suggesting it was driven by anti-Semitic views.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!” the POTUS wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.”
Trump added: “Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”
Meanwhile, Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the US, confirmed that the victims had been planning to get engaged to one another.
According to Leiter, the male victim had purchased a ring only this week and was intending to propose on an upcoming trip to Jerusalem.
“They were a beautiful couple,” he added.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog released a statement describing 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.
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