WASHINGTON - Two Israeli embassy employees were shot and killed Tuesday night outside the Jewish Museum in Washington. World news agencies reported the tragic incident this morning, citing U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The incident prompted immediate reactions from both US and Israeli officials. Police said the attack occurred near the main entrance to the museum shortly after 7 pm local time. The attacker, whose identity has not yet been released, was arrested shortly after the crime. Witnesses and security forces said he was allegedly chanting slogans in support of a free Palestine during the arrest.
"Hate and radicalism have no place in the United States," US President Donald Trump said in an official statement issued at the White House. He also stressed the importance of cooperation with the Israeli authorities and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. Security measures in Washington were tightened after the attack, especially around diplomatic missions and Jewish institutions. Investigators are now determining whether this was an isolated act or part of a wider extremist plan.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was in contact with the US authorities and expected a thorough investigation into the case. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack a "barbaric act of hatred" and called for an international fight against anti-Semitism. The motive of the perpetrator has not yet been officially confirmed, but the FBI is working with the hypothesis of an ideologically motivated attack.
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