Pictured: Israeli embassy staff killed near Jewish Museum in Washington, DC ‘who were due to get engaged next week’

Yaron Lischinsky and his girlfriend Sarah Milgrim were gunned down in the attack allegedly carried out by a pro-Palestinian activist.

The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, shouted 'free Palestine' as he was arrested.

Tributes have been paid online to the young couple 'in the prime of their lives' who worked as staff at the Israeli embassy.

"Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues. They were in the prime of their lives," an online tribute states.

"This evening, a terrorist shot and killed them as they exited an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC.

"The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder. No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss.

"Our hearts are with their families, and the embassy will be by their side during this terrible time."

US President Donald Trump has condemned the attack.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the anti-Semitic crime. He posted online: "Horrified by the killing of two Israeli Embassy staff in DC.

"We condemn this appalling, antisemitic crime.

"Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and colleagues at this awful time."

The shooting happened on Wednesday evening near the Capital Jewish Museum.

Police are yet to confirm a motive for the shooting.

Speaking at a news conference, Pamela Smith, Washington DC's chief of police, said that a single suspect is now in custody and that they had shouted "free, free Palestine" while being detained.

The two people who died in the attack were a young couple about to be engaged, with the boyfriend having bought a ring in preparation for proposing next week in Jerusalem.

Ms Smith continued: "Prior to the shooting, the suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum.

"He approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire" - striking the two victims, she added.

The suspect has been identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois. They were not known to the police.

Ms Smith added that "the preliminary investigation indicates that both victims were exiting an event at the Capital Jewish Museum".

Speaking of the two victims who died in the attack, Israel's ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter said: "They were a beautiful couple who came to enjoy an evening in Washington's Cultural Centre."

He continued: "We are resilient people. The people of Israel are resilient people. And the people of the United States of America are resilient people.

"Together we won't be afraid. Together we'll stand together and we're going to overcome moral depravity of people who think that they're going to achieve political gains through murder."

Washington Field Office assistant director Steven Jensen said: "Tonight a heinous crime was committed and the FBI stands with the Metropolitan Police Department to help not only investigate the homicide and provide support but also to look into ties to potential terrorism or motivation based on a bias-based crime or a hate crime."

'Antisemitic terrorism'

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said the attack is "a depraved act of antisemitic terrorism".

Writing on X, Mr Danon said: "We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act."

US president Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "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. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!"

Mr Leiter confirmed he had spoken to the US president since the attack, stating Trump "told me that his administration is going to do everything it can possibly do to fight and end antisemitism and the hatred that's being directed, the demonisation and delegitimisation of the State of Israel."

Spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC, Tal Naim Cohen, said on X: "We have full faith in law enforcement authorities on both the local and federal levels to apprehend the shooter and protect Israel’s representatives and Jewish communities throughout the United States."

'Guilt'

JoJo Kalin is the board member of the American Jewish Committee who organised the event the two victims were attending. She didn’t witness the shooting but spoke of her shock. She said:

“I didn't know the couple who were shot but I do feel a sense of guilt, and it's a very uniquely Jewish thing to feel guilty for the fact that they were there because of an event I organised and then feeling guilty about my guilt when I shouldn't be centering myself when people's lives were just lost.”

Ms Kalin said the event was largely focused on how to build a coalition to help Gazans.

“I'm not going to lose my humanity over this or be deterred. And that Israelis and Palestinians both still deserve self determination and [it is] just deeply ironic that that's what we were discussing."