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Germany’s Merz condemns ‘heinous’ Washington shooting

Germany’s Merz condemns ‘heinous’ Washington shooting

AFP
4 Hours ago

BERLIN: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday condemned the shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers outside a Jewish museum in Washington, including a man who also held a German passport.

Merz posted on X that he condemned the “heinous act in the strongest possible terms” and argued: “At this stage we must assume an anti-Semitic motive.”

The suspected gunman has been detained. The motive for the crime has not officially been confirmed.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed to MPs that one of those killed, the Israeli Yaron Lischinsky, also had a German passport.

Wadephul also condemned the shooting as “treacherous” and added: “There is no justification for anti-Semitic violence.”

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Speaking earlier at a press conference alongside his Nigerian counterpart Yusuf Tuggar, Wadephul said: “We see again and again that Jews are exposed to unacceptable dangers across the world.”

The shooting occurred at an annual reception hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) for young Jewish professionals and the Washington diplomatic community.

The German-Israeli Society (DIG), which promotes ties between the two countries, said Lischinsky would be remembered as a “longstanding bridge-builder in German-Israeli relations”.

The society paid tribute to him as “an open, intelligent and deeply engaged person, whose interest in German-Israeli relations and promoting peaceful coexistence in the Middle East radiated to all those around him.”

Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith also said a single suspect who was seen pacing outside the museum before the event was in custody. The suspect, chanted “Free Palestine, Free Palestine,” in custody, she said.

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

President Donald Trump condemned the shooting. “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!” he said in a message on Truth Social. “Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.”