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What we know about Israeli embassy staff shooting in Washington DC What we know about Israeli embassy staff shooting in Washington DC
(about 2 hours later)
Watch: BBC at the scene of shooting outside Jewish museumWatch: BBC at the scene of shooting outside Jewish museum
A young couple who worked for the Israeli Embassy have been shot dead outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC.A young couple who worked for the Israeli Embassy have been shot dead outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC.
Police say the victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were killed by a man who shouted "free, free Palestine". The suspect is in custody.Police say the victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were killed by a man who shouted "free, free Palestine". The suspect is in custody.
Here's what you need to know about the shooting.Here's what you need to know about the shooting.
What happened?What happened?
At 21:08 local time on Wednesday, police received multiple calls about a shooting outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in downtown Washington DC. At 21:08 local time on Wednesday, police received calls about a shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in downtown Washington DC.
A man and a woman were found unconscious and not breathing at the scene, and later died.A man and a woman were found unconscious and not breathing at the scene, and later died.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said the couple were leaving the event at the museum on 3rd St NW - an area with numerous tourist sites, museums and government buildings. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said the couple had been leaving an event at the museum which is in an area with tourist sites, museums and government buildings.
Police allege the shooting was committed by Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, who is being questioned in custody.Police allege the shooting was committed by Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, who is being questioned in custody.
MPD chief Pamela Smith said he was seen pacing up and down outside the museum before opening fire with a handgun on a group of four people. He had been seen pacing up and down outside the museum before using a handgun to open fire on a group of four people, the MPD said.
The suspect then went inside the museum, where he was detained. Police said he identified where he discarded the weapon and allegedly implied that he had committed the offence. The suspect then went inside the museum, where he was detained. He repeatedly shouted "free Palestine" while being arrested, police said.
He then chanted "free, free Palestine" while being detained. Some in the museum had initially thought he was a distressed bystander when he burst in.
MPD are leading the investigation and the FBI said it is looking into whether the attack was linked to terrorism or a hate crime. One witness, Yoni Kalin, said people inside had been "calming him down, giving him water, taking care of him".
"Little did we know he was somebody that executed people in cold blood," he said.
The MPD are leading the investigation while the FBI has said it is looking into whether the attack was linked to terrorism or a hate crime.
What do we know about the victims?What do we know about the victims?
Yaron Lischinsky planned to propose to his girlfriend Sarah Lynn Milgrim Yaron Lischinsky had planned to propose to his girlfriend Sarah Lynn Milgrim
Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim were a couple who both worked at the embassy. Mr Lischinsky was about to propose to Miss Milgrim, according to the Israeli ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter. Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim had both worked at the embassy. Mr Lischinsky had been about to propose to Miss Milgrim, Israel's ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter said on Thursday.
"The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem," he told a press conference. "The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem," he told reporters.
Yaron Lischinsky, a joint German-Israeli national, worked as a research assistant at the embassy, his LinkedIn profile says. Yaron Lischinsky, a joint German-Israeli national, had worked as a research assistant at the embassy, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He was born in Germany and moved to Israel as a teenager before relocating to Washington, according to his friend Ronen Shoval. Born in Germany, he had moved to Israel as a teenager before relocating to Washington, his friend Ronen Shoval said.
Mr Shoval told the BBC that Mr Lischinsky was a "devout Christian" with "good character". He was a "devout Christian" with "good character", Mr Shoval told the BBC.
Israel's ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, said Mr Lischinsky was born in Nuremberg and had previously served in the IDF. He had also previously served in the Israeli military, Israel's ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, said.
Sarah Lynn Milgrim, an American from Kansas, worked for the Israeli embassy's public diplomacy department, according to her LinkedIn page.Sarah Lynn Milgrim, an American from Kansas, worked for the Israeli embassy's public diplomacy department, according to her LinkedIn page.
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) who organised the event at the museum described her as "warm and compassionate". Her father, Robert, told the BBC's US partner CBS News that his daughter "loved Israel" and "loved everybody that lived in the Middle East".
"She had a lot of close Palestinian friends, as well as many Israeli friends," he said.
KU Hillel, a Jewish student organisation at the University of Kansas, said Miss Milgrim was a "beloved alum" with a "bright spirit".KU Hillel, a Jewish student organisation at the University of Kansas, said Miss Milgrim was a "beloved alum" with a "bright spirit".
In a statement, the Israeli embassy said its staff were "heartbroken and devastated" by the murders. The Israeli embassy said its staff were "heartbroken and devastated" by the deaths.
Follow live: Two Israeli embassy staff shot dead near Jewish museum in Washington DCFollow live: Two Israeli embassy staff shot dead near Jewish museum in Washington DC
Israeli museum victim 'was planning to propose'Israeli museum victim 'was planning to propose'
What do we know about the suspect?What do we know about the suspect?
Watch: Moment Jewish Museum shooting suspect is detainedWatch: Moment Jewish Museum shooting suspect is detained
Suspect Elias Rodriguez is currently being held by authorities and is expected in court on Thursday. Elias Rodriguez is being held by authorities and is due to appear in court on Thursday. He is believed to have acted alone, said US Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Online records examined by BBC Verify indicate that he had been working at the American Osteopathic Information Association since 2024. The FBI was seen searching a Chicago property believed to be linked to him.
Prior to that, he appeared to work as a researcher at HistoryMakers, a research and educational institution based in Chicago, according to a LinkedIn profile and the institution's website. He had been working at the American Osteopathic Information Association since 2024, according to online records examined by BBC Verify.
Social media accounts BBC Verify has examined that appear to belong to Elias Rodriguez indicate that he was heavily involved in the pro-Palestinian protest movement. Social media accounts that appear to belong to Elias Rodriguez also indicate that he was heavily involved in the pro-Palestinian protest movement.
An online story indicated that in 2017, he was associated with a fringe communist group, The Party for Socialism and Liberation. An online story indicated that he was associated with a fringe communist group, The Party for Socialism and Liberation, in 2017.
The party said in a post on X that Elias Rodriguez had a "brief association" with a branch of the group and that they had had no contact with him for seven years. In a post on X, the party said they "have nothing to do with this shooting and do not support it" and have had no contact with Elias Rodriguez for seven years.
They said they "have nothing to do with this shooting and do not support it". Police said there had been no prior interactions with the suspect and had not seen anything in his background "that would have placed him on our radar".
Metropolitan Police Department chief Pamela Smith said officers "have not had any prior interactions" with the suspect and did not see anything in his background "that would have placed him on our radar".
What did witnesses say?
Witnesses described the aftermath of the attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum.
"At around 09:07 we heard gunshots, and then a guy came in and seemed really distressed and we thought he just needed help and he needed safe shelter," Katie Kalisher said.
Yoni Kalin, who was also at the event, said: "So people were calming him down, giving him water, taking care of him. Little did we know he was somebody that executed people in cold blood.
"He was the shooter. Once the police originally showed up, he's like 'I did this. I'm unarmed.'
"He pulls out a red kaffiyeh and he was like, 'I did this for Gaza. Free Palestine. There's only one solution. Intifada revolution', and he just kept yelling 'free Palestine'."
What was the event?What was the event?
The event at the Capital Jewish Museum was billed as a networking opportunity to bring Jewish young professionals and the diplomatic community together. The event at the Capital Jewish Museum had been billed as a networking opportunity to bring Jewish young professionals and the diplomatic community together.
The organiser, American Jewish Committee, said it was open to those in the DC diplomatic community. The event's theme was advertised as "turning pain into purpose".The organiser, American Jewish Committee, said it was open to those in the DC diplomatic community. The event's theme was advertised as "turning pain into purpose".
The event description said it invited humanitarian aid organisers responding to humanitarian crises in the Middle East, including Gaza. The event description said it invited humanitarian aid organisers responding to crises in the Middle East, including Gaza.
The location was only shared with those who signed up to attend.The location was only shared with those who signed up to attend.
What did Donald Trump say?What did Donald Trump say?
President Donald Trump has condemned the attack and called it antisemitic.President Donald Trump has condemned the attack and called it antisemitic.
Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, he said: "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, now!Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, he said: "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, now!
"Hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims."Hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims.
"So sad that such things as this can happen! God bless you all!""So sad that such things as this can happen! God bless you all!"
What did Israel say?What did Israel say?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was "outraged by the horrifying antisemitic murder" of the victims.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was "outraged by the horrifying antisemitic murder" of the victims.
His office said he had spoken to both victims' parents.His office said he had spoken to both victims' parents.
"My heart grieves for the families of the young beloveds, whose lives were cut short in a moment by an abhorrent antisemitic murderer," he said. "My heart grieves for the families of the young beloveds, whose lives were cut short in a moment by an abhorrent antisemitic murderer," he said, adding he had directed Israeli embassies around the world to increase security.
"I have directed that security be increased at Israeli missions around the world and for the state's representatives." He and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also said the murders were caused by "anti-Israeli incitement" which they said was being carried out by European leaders.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said the murders were caused by "anti-Israeli incitement" which he said was being carried out by "leaders and officials of many countries, of international organisations, especially from Europe".
One Israeli minister, Amichai Chikli, went so far as to directly call out Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and Mark Carney as having "emboldened the forces of terror."One Israeli minister, Amichai Chikli, went so far as to directly call out Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and Mark Carney as having "emboldened the forces of terror."
Earlier this week, the leaders of the UK, France and Canada signed a strongly worded joint letter condemning Israel's actions in Gaza.Earlier this week, the leaders of the UK, France and Canada signed a strongly worded joint letter condemning Israel's actions in Gaza.
Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas's cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas's cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
At least 53,475 people have been killed in Gaza since then, including 3,340 since the Israeli offensive resumed, according to the territory's health ministry.At least 53,475 people have been killed in Gaza since then, including 3,340 since the Israeli offensive resumed, according to the territory's health ministry.
Additional reporting by Shayan Sardarizadeh, BBC VerifyAdditional reporting by Shayan Sardarizadeh, BBC Verify