A shooting incident occurred outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening local time, where two Israeli embassy staff were shot dead by a gunman shouting "Free Palestine."
According to AFP, the shooting took place outside the Capital Jewish Museum in downtown Washington while a social event was being held inside for young professionals and diplomatic personnel.
A video circulating on social media shows a young man, wearing a jacket and white shirt, with a beard, being taken away by police while shouting "Freedom, freedom for Palestine."
The museum is close to the U.S. Capitol and is only about 1.6 kilometers from the White House.
Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Smith told reporters: "We believe the shooting was carried out by a single suspect, who is now in custody."
“Before the shooting, the suspect was seen pacing outside the museum. He approached a group of four people, pulled out a handgun, and opened fire.” She said: “After the shooting, the suspect entered the museum and was detained by security.”
She said the handcuffed suspect pointed out where he had discarded the weapon and shouted "Freedom, freedom for Palestine."
Police identified the suspect as a 30-year-old man from Chicago, Illinois, named Rodriguez.
Smith stated at a news conference that the police received multiple emergency calls reporting the shooting near the museum around 9 pm on Wednesday (9 am Malaysian time Thursday).
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, a man and a woman were found unconscious and not breathing. Despite the best efforts of medical personnel, both were pronounced dead.
The victims are said to be a young couple planning to get married.
The police cordoned off the area, and emergency vehicles remained on site until Thursday morning.