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Police are detaining a 30-year-old man over a shooting near the capital Jewish Museum.
Two staff members of the US Israeli Embassy were shot dead in an attack outside the Jewish Museum in the capital.
Authorities say the fatal shooting occurred on Wednesday (Thursday at 1:00 GMT, Thursday at 1:00 GMT, Thursday).
Pamela A. Smith, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, said authorities had detained one suspect over the shooting and was identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, Illinois.
“Before the shooting, the suspect was observed walking back and forth outside the museum. He approached a group of four, produced a handgun, opened fire, and struck both offspring,” Smith said at a press conference.
Smith said Rodriguez recited “freedom, freedom, Palestine” while in custody.
Smith did not elaborate on the alleged motives for the attack.
Authorities said there was no ongoing threat.
Israeli US ambassador Yethiel Reiter said the deceased was a “beautiful couple” who had planned to marry.
“This week, the young man bought the ring in Jerusalem next week with the intention of suggesting to his girlfriend,” the writer said.
The American Jewish Committee, which held the event at the museum, said it “devastated what happened outside the venue, not during times.”
“At this point, as we are waiting for more information from the police, our attention and our minds are about being alone with those who have been harmed and their families,” the organization said.
US President Donald Trump expressed his sadness towards the victims’ families, saying the murder was “clearly based on anti-Semitism.”
“Hate and extremism have no place in America,” Trump said in the True Society. “It means dol to the victim’s family.
Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem said federal authorities are investigating the attack and will bring the “dead perpetrator” to justice.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said she was at the scene of the shooting and “prayed for the victims of this violence when we were working to learn more.”
Israel’s UN ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon called the shooting “a decisive act of anti-Semitic terrorism.”
“To hurt the Jewish community is crossing the red line,” Danon said.
“We believe that US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal activity. Israel will continue to act decisively to protect its citizens and representatives everywhere in the world.”