Shooting at Cuban embassy in U.S. "suspected hate crime": police

A shooting outside the Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C. early Thursday morning was a "suspected hate crime," Washington D.C. police said. A police report obtained by The Associated Press said the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Alexander Alazo from Texas, "knowingly discharged multiple rounds from an AK-47 rifle into the Cuban Embassy."

However, Alazo's motivation remains unknown, said the police report.

Officers recovered the rifle, ammunition and a white powdery substance that was found in a small baggie after Alazo's arrest, according to the report.

The shooting broke out around 2 a.m. local time, leaving holes in the walls and pillars near the front entrance of the embassy in northwestern Washington. No injuries were reported.

Alazo was arrested on charges of possessing an unregistered firearm and ammunition, assault with intent to kill and possessing a high-capacity magazine, a U.S. Secret Service spokeswoman said.

Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that embassy staff members were "safe and protected" though the shooting caused "material damage" to the building, said the AP report.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department and the Secret Service were investigating.