A person, with an Israeli flag with a cross within the centre, kneels subsequent to emergency personnel working on the website the place, in response to the U.S. Homeland Safety Secretary, two Israeli embassy employees have been shot lifeless close to the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., U.S. on Might 21, 2025.
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
A person accused of killing two Israeli diplomats in Washington, D.C., final yr was indicted on 4 further counts of terrorism, in a brand new indictment that was unsealed on Wednesday (February 4, 2026).
The brand new indictment consists of 9 costs, together with hate crimes, filed earlier. A number of of the fees carry a most penalty of demise or life imprisonment, the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the District of Columbia mentioned.
“These further terrorism-related costs carry a compulsory life sentence underneath D.C. Code, whereas additionally reflecting the truth that this act was in actual fact an act of terror,” U.S. Lawyer Jeanine Ferris Pirro mentioned in an announcement.
Prosecutors accuse Elias Rodriguez, 31, of opening hearth on individuals leaving an occasion for younger professionals and diplomats hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights antisemitism and helps Israel.
He fired roughly 20 pictures from a semi-automatic handgun, and known as out “Free Palestine,” in response to prosecutors.
Legal professionals for Rodriguez didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, who each labored for Israel’s Embassy in Washington, have been killed.
Darren B. Cox, the FBI assistant director answerable for the Washington Area Workplace, mentioned Rodriguez wrote and revealed a manifesto as an try and “morally justify his actions” and encourage others to commit political violence.
The taking pictures, which was condemned by leaders worldwide, got here amid polarisation, together with pupil protests, in the US over the conflict in Gaza.
The conflict was Israel’s response to Hamas’ October 2023 assault that left not less than 1,665 Israelis and international nationals lifeless. Greater than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza between October 7, 2023 and October 7, 2025, in response to Gaza well being authorities.
Printed – February 05, 2026 06:02 am IST