WEB DESK: Two National Guard soldiers sustained critical injuries after being shot in Washington, DC, less than two blocks away from the White House. The city’s mayor described the incident as a “targeted shooting.”
According to law enforcement, a lone gunman opened fire on the soldiers, who were members of the West Virginia National Guard, on Wednesday afternoon. Nearby National Guard members, responding to the sound of gunshots, managed to subdue the suspect.
At the time of the attack, former President Donald Trump was in Florida. He indicated that the alleged perpetrator was an Afghan national who entered the United States in September 2021. Trump pledged that his administration would ensure the attacker faces “the harshest possible consequences” for what he labeled as “an evil act of hatred and terror.”
In a press release, the Department of Homeland Security identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakamal, describing him as “a criminal alien from Afghanistan.” Details about his immigration status were not provided.
This incident has drawn attention to the tens of thousands of Afghans who came to the U.S. under special immigration programs following the tumultuous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, during Joe Biden’s presidency.
In a public address on Wednesday night, Trump called for a reassessment of all Afghan individuals admitted into the country under Biden’s administration.
In response, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a temporary suspension of all Afghan immigration applications until vetting protocols are reviewed.
A report from Joint Task Force DC, responsible for coordinating National Guard operations in Washington, confirmed that the shooting occurred at approximately 2:15 PM EST (5:15 PM GMT) near Farragut Square Metro Station.
