‘Antisemitic barbarity’: French, British, German top officials condemn US shooting

The foreign ministers of France and Britain, as well as the German chancellor, condemn the shooting death of two Israeli Embassy staffers in the US capital.

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot condemns the attack as “an abhorrent act of antisemitic barbarity,” adding that “nothing can justify such violence.”

British Foreign Minister David Lammy says he is “horrified,” adding: “We condemn this appalling, anti-Semitic crime. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and colleagues at this awful time.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz calls the shooting it “a despicable act.”

Merz posts on X that he condemns the attack “in the strongest terms” and that “at the moment we must assume there was an anti-Semitic motive.”

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also expressed his “shock” at the shooting and condemned it as “treacherous” on his X account.

Speaking later at a press conference alongside his Nigerian counterpart Yusuf Tuggar, Wadephul says: “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.