(Washington, D.C.) A shooting targeting National Guard members in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday left two members seriously wounded. The suspect, an Afghan citizen, has been arrested, and his motive remains unclear. President Trump called the attack an "act of terrorism," ordered a troop surge to Washington, and vowed to review all Afghans who came to the U.S. during the previous Biden administration.
The D.C. Police Department said that on Wednesday afternoon (November 26), two National Guard members were patrolling a few blocks from the White House when the suspect rushed out from a corner and opened fire. Other National Guard members intervened, and after an exchange of fire, the suspect was subdued.
The two soldiers were seriously injured, and the suspect also sustained gunshot wounds. Police said the individual appeared to have acted alone.
The incident occurred outside a subway station near Farragut Square. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called it a "targeted" attack. The White House was immediately locked down afterward.
At the time of the attack, Trump was vacationing in Florida. He addressed the nation via video on Wednesday night, condemning the attack as "an act of evil, hatred, and terror."
Further Reading
Trump said the suspect entered the United States in September 2021 on a “notorious flight” operated by the Biden administration. He stated, “We must now re-examine every foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan during the Biden administration and take all necessary steps to ensure that any foreigner who does not belong here or cannot bring any benefit to our country is deported.”
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services subsequently announced an indefinite suspension of processing all immigration applications related to Afghan nationals. War Secretary Hergesse said Trump also directed the Department of Defense to send 500 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C.
U.S. media: Suspect fought alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
The Department of Homeland Security said the suspect is 29-year-old Afghan man Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who came to the United States from Afghanistan in 2021 through the then-Biden administration’s “Allies Welcome Operation.”
Reuters, citing anonymous officials, reported that Lakanwal applied for asylum last December, and his application was approved this April. He resides in Washington state and has no prior criminal record.
According to NBC News, citing relatives of the suspect, the suspect served 10 years in the Afghan army and fought alongside U.S. special forces. Months ago, the suspect told his relatives he worked for Amazon, the American e-commerce giant.
Fox News, citing CIA Director Ratcliffe, reported that the suspect had cooperated with multiple U.S. government agencies, including the CIA.
In August, Trump declared a "crime emergency" in Washington, D.C., and deployed the National Guard to assist in restoring order and security in the capital. A federal judge ruled last week that this was illegal and ordered the deployment to be halted, but the ruling was suspended for 21 days.
Trump has also sent troops to other Democratic-led cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago, drawing criticism that he is using the fight against illegal immigration and crime to suppress political opponents.
U.S. Vice President Vance said on Wednesday that the shooting shows the Trump administration's immigration policy is correct: "We must redouble our efforts to deport those who have no right to remain in the United States."
CNN points out that this incident will intensify the debate surrounding the role of the National Guard and Trump's attempts to militarize law enforcement.
