Washington, May 1 (IANS): A shooting outside the Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C. was a "suspected hate crime", police said.

A police report 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" on Thursday morning, reports Xinhua news agency.

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 bag after Alazo's arrest, according to the report.

The shooting broke at out around 2 a.m., 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 US 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.

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

In a statement on Thursday, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was "awaiting the corresponding investigation by US authorities into the identity and motives of the person who carried out this attack and the circumstances surrounding the event".

It is the obligation of the US to adopt appropriate measures to protect the premises of diplomatic missions against any intrusion or damage, the statement added.