WEB DESK: An Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House was previously connected to various US government agencies, including the CIA, during the conflict in Afghanistan, as stated by intelligence officials.
The suspect has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, who was apprehended following the attack on Wednesday in central Washington, D.C. Both Guardsmen involved in the incident, members of the West Virginia National Guard, remain in critical condition.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a temporary suspension of immigration processing for Afghan nationals shortly after the shooting. The agency did not provide details on when processing would resume.
Reports indicate Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a federal resettlement initiative prompted by the US military’s departure from Afghanistan, the collapse of the Afghan government, and the Taliban’s rise to power. Intelligence sources disclosed that Lakanwal had previously collaborated with a partner force stationed in Kandahar, which worked alongside US agencies such as the CIA.
Investigators are currently exploring whether international terrorism might have influenced the perpetrator’s actions, according to multiple intelligence sources cited by the media.
President Donald Trump strongly condemned the attack in a video message from Florida on Wednesday, describing it as “an act of terror” and “a crime against humanity.” Trump added that the assault reflected “heinous evil and hatred.”
