An 89-year-old man with ties to white supremacist groups killed a security guard at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington yesterday.

James von Brunn opened fire with a rifle as he walked into the museum at 12.50pm, shooting his victim at close range, before being hit in an exchange of fire.

He was taken to the George Washington University hospital and was said to be in critical condition. Police sources said that Mr von Brunn had written a book and had a website that raged against Jews and Christianity.

On his Website, HolyWesternEmpire.org von Brunn claims he once attempted to arrest the leadership of the Federal Reserve. He says he was arrested after surrendering to a guard who called his bluff on his threats to open fire.