Israel closely monitoring mass shooting at 4th of July parade in Highland Park; 2 Jews killed.
By TPS
Prime Minister Yair Lapid spoke with Israeli Consul General in Chicago Yinam Cohen on Monday evening and was briefed on the initial details of the mass shooting during a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, “a day of celebration has turned into a day of tragedy” as he put it.
At least six people were killed and 36 were wounded when Robert “Bobby” E. Crimo III, 22, fired indiscriminately at a July Fourth parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park on Monday. He was arrested.
Cohen updated Lapid on the rescue and evacuation efforts as well as the casualties among the Jewish community. At least two of the victims are reportedly Jewish while the Jewish community fears that the number of dead among its members will climb. The Chicago suburb has a large Jewish community.
“A day of celebration has turned into a day of tragedy. My thoughts are with the families of the victims and all the American people. Today as always, Israel stands with our American friends,” said Lapid.
Cohen said he was “following the horrible news from Highland Park. Our hearts and prayers are with the members of the community. We thank the local authorities for their immediate response.”
Anti-Semitism may be the motivation for the attack.
Minister of Defense Benny Gantz said that “on what should have been a celebratory day, my thoughts are with the American people following the horrific attack at the July 4th parade in Chicago. I express my condolences to the families of victims and wish a rapid recovery to the wounded. The people of Israel stand with you.”
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “our hearts go out to the victims, their families and the people of America. The fourth of July is a celebration of freedom and the founding of the great democracy of the United States. It should be a time of joy and not of mourning.”
member of Knesset Bezalel Smotrich stated that “we stand with our brothers and sisters in Highland Park who are experiencing one of the most difficult days of their lives. Terror will not prevail. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. The people of Israel stand with, and send the deepest condolences to the entire American nation, the people of Chicago, and to the Jewish community.”