Jonathan Frederic De Santos

A police officer patrols the US Capitol buidling in Washington DC in March 2024. Jonathan de Santos, ABS-CBN News, file

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1748051828916viber_image_2025-05-24_09-54-22-172.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A police officer patrols the US Capitol buidling in Washington DC in March 2024. <em>Jonathan de Santos, ABS-CBN News, file</em></span></span></span>WASHINGTON — Police beefed up security at schools and religious buildings across Washington Friday as the US capital reeled from the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers outside a Jewish museum.</div><p>The 31-year-old Chicago man accused of Wednesday&#x27;s attack shouted &quot;Free Palestine&quot; as he was taken away by police -- exacerbating fears over rising anti-Semitism since Israel&#x27;s invasion of Gaza following the unprecedented October 2023 Hamas attack.</p><p>&quot;Around DC, you will see an increased presence of law enforcement officers around the community, you will find us around our faith-based organizations,&quot; Metropolitan Police (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith told reporters.</p><p>&quot;You will see an increased presence around our schools and places like the DC Jewish Community Center. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish community.&quot;</p><p>Authorities in Washington said they were investigating the shooting &quot;as an act of terrorism and as a hate crime&quot; ahead of a preliminary court hearing set for alleged killer Elias Rodriguez on June 18.</p><div><br/></div><p>US President Donald Trump — who spoke with Israel&#x27;s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — posted on social media that the attack was clearly anti-Semitic.</p><p>The shooting, just 1.6 kilometers from the White House, triggered international outrage as Israel blamed European criticism of its Gaza offensive, which came in response to the Hamas attack.</p><p>The victims of Wednesday&#x27;s attack, Israeli citizen Yaron Lischinsky and American Sarah Lynn Milgrim, had been planning to marry.</p><div><strong>&#x27;Crazy&#x27;</strong></div><p>Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser gathered her interfaith council, local Jewish leaders, city councillors and law enforcement officials on Thursday to coordinate the community response.</p><p>&quot;We have a long history, and a lot of practice in our city, of working with Jewish organizations around safety and around protection,&quot; she told a news conference.</p><p>Aaron Hiller, head of the board of the Hill Havurah synagogue, who was organizing a vigil for the victims in Washington late Friday, said the attack was &quot;unfortunately ... not unexpected.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Both acts of anti-Semitism and acts of violence are all too common,&quot; Hiller said, though insisting the community was &quot;very safe.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/5/22/two-israeli-embassy-staff-shot-dead-outside-jewish-museum-in-washington-1527">Two Israeli embassy staff shot dead outside Jewish museum in Washington<br/></a></div><p>&quot;I walk to work and from work very late at night (and) my kids roam the neighborhood freely,&quot; he said.</p><p>But &quot;particularly since the events of October 7th, we are taking steps to enhance our security here and elsewhere.&quot;</p><p>Daniel Ben Chitrit, who was at the vigil, said he was deeply shaken by Wednesday&#x27;s killings, adding that he was supposed to have been at the Jewish Museum that evening.</p><p>&quot;I didn&#x27;t know the victims, but I&#x27;ve met the victims at previous events,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/5/23/un-chief-denounces-cruelest-phase-of-israel-attack-in-gaza-2311">UN chief denounces &#x27;cruelest phase&#x27; of Israel attack in Gaza<br/></a></div><p>He insisted there had been no way for the shooter to know the couple worked at the Israeli embassy.</p><p>&quot;All he knew is that they were coming from the Jewish event,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>Police beefed up security at schools and religious buildings across Washington Friday as the US capital reeled from the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers outside a Jewish museum.</p>

Police beefed up security at schools and religious buildings across Washington Friday as the US capital reeled from the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers outside a Jewish museum.

US tightens security after murder of Israeli embassy staff

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

World

US tightens security after murder of Israeli embassy staff

Agence France-Presse

Published May 24, 2025 10:06 AM PHT

Read More:

Washington

Washington DC

Israel

Israeli Embassy

Gaza

Palestine

ABSNews

ANCpromo

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.