Two Israeli embassy staffers killed outside Washington event

Two Israeli Embassy aides were shot and killed outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington on Wednesday night, as an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee took place inside, government officials and others said.

“Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC,” Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, wrote on social media. “We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share. Please pray for the families of the victims.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on social media that she was “on the scene of the horrible shooting outside the Washington, D.C. Capital Jewish Museum,” alongside the interim US attorney for Washington, Jeanine Pirro.

“Praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more,” Bondi wrote.

Tal Naim Cohen, a spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy, wrote on social media that the two staff members were shot “at close range.”

Ted Deutch, the American Jewish Committee’s CEO, confirmed that his group hosted the event and said, “We are devastated that an unspeakable act of violence took place outside the venue.” He said the group’s officials were thinking “solely” of the injured and their families.

Kash Patel, the FBI director, said his office was working with Metropolitan Police Department officials to learn more, adding that more updates would come as information became available.

Officials at the FBI Washington field office posted on social media that “there is no ongoing threat to public safety.”

There was no immediate information about who was behind the shooting.