A tragic incident unfolded in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. According to reliable sources, two staff members of the Israeli embassy were shot and killed outside an event held at the Capital Jewish Museum,” reports indicate.
A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, Tal Naim Cohen, delivered a statement, confirming the death of their colleagues and expressing faith in U.S law enforcement. “We have full faith in law enforcement authorities on both the local and federal levels to apprehend the shooter and protect Israel’s representatives and Jewish communities throughout the United States,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, confirmed that his organization had hosted the event at the museum. “At this moment, as we await more information from the police about exactly what transpired, our attention and our hearts are solely with those who were harmed and their families,” he said, expressing profound shock and sorrow at what he described as an “unspeakable act of violence.”
The incident occurred in close proximity to the FBI field office in D.C., with the FBI working alongside the Metropolitan Police Department in the investigation. “FBI personnel are on the scene working with MPD to respond. We’ll have a statement soon and share more information as we are able,” Ben Williamson, a spokesperson for the FBI, confirmed.
Both United States Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro promptly arrived at the scene. “Praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more,” Bondi shared in a public statement.
The aftermath of the incident stirred strong reactions, with Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, labelling the shooting as a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.” United States Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem pledged, “We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share…We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice.”
Reports from law enforcement sources indicate that a person of interest is currently being questioned by police. This raises important questions about the circumstances leading up to the horrific event and the motivations behind the deadly attack.
Wednesday ended tragically, as two Israeli embassy staff members are dead, and the city is in shock. As we piece together the details of this incident, we are reminded of the importance of staying informed and aware. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.
