Two staff members of the Israeli embassy were shot dead outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington on Wednesday night.

The two victims, a man and a woman, were leaving an event at the museum when the 30-year-old suspect approached a group of four people and opened fire, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference.

The suspect was detained by event security, Smith said. When he was taken into custody, the man began chanting, "free, free Palestine," Smith said.

The suspect had no previous contact with police, she added.

Israel's envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said the fatal shooting was "a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism." 

"Harming the Jewish community is crossing a red line," he wrote on X.

"We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives — everywhere in the world."

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was "devastated" by the scenes in Washington. 

"This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives of two young employees of the Israeli embassy," he said in a statement, adding: "We stand with the Jewish community in DC and across the US. America and Israel will stand united in defense of our people and our shared values. Terror and hate will not break us."

US President Donald Trump also condemned the killings. "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!" he posted on his Truth Social platform. "Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said authorities would "track down those responsible" for the fatal shooting. "This was a brazen act of cowardly, antisemitic violence. Make no mistake: we will track down those responsible and bring them to justice," he posted on X.

US Attorney General Pamela Bondi posted on X: "I am on the scene of the horrible shooting outside the Washington, DC Capital Jewish Museum. Praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more."

FBI Director Kash Patel said he and his team had been briefed on the shooting.

"While we're working with [Metropolitan Police Department] to respond and learn more, in the immediate, please pray for the victims and their families," he wrote on X.

Edited by: Kieran Burke