U.S. President Donald Trump has condemned the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff outside a Jewish museum in Washington on Wednesday evening, calling it a “horrible” act of anti-Semitism.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Thursday.
“Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the United State. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen!” the president said.
Metropolitan Police chief Pamela Smith said a man and a woman were killed. She said a suspect was arrested and a weapon was recovered.
German foreign minister shocked at killing of Israeli embassy staff
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Thursday expressed shock at the killing of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington.
“Anti-Semitic violence can never be justified,” Wadephul said.
He was “shocked at the dastardly murder” of the two employees, he wrote on X, adding that his thoughts were with the families of the victims and colleagues in the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
The two victims were shot dead near the Capital Jewish Museum.
According to Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter, they were a young couple who were about to get engaged.
U.S. police said the suspect has been arrested and that after the killings he allegedly chanted the slogan “free, free Palestine.”
Jewish leader in Germany ‘torn apart’ by Washington shooting
Also, the head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany said his heart had been “torn apart’’ by the killing of two employees at the Israeli embassy in Washington.
Council president Josef Schuster told dpa on Thursday that his thoughts were with the families of the victims.
He said he had just returned from Israel, where representatives of Jewish organisations from around the world said they were witnessing the spread of hatred against Jews and Israel.
“Just one day later, this has been confirmed in the most tragic way.
“The rise in political and anti-Semitic violence, even in Western societies, is shocking and threatening,” Schuster said.
Employees of Israeli missions are also particularly at risk in Germany, Schuster said.