Afghan National Arrested in Shooting of Two National Guard Members Near White House

Two National Guard members were critically injured in a shooting near the White House on Wednesday afternoon. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was apprehended after being wounded during the incident.

The attack occurred around 2:15 p.m. near the intersection of 17th and I Streets NW, approximately two blocks from the White House. According to D.C. police executive assistant chief Jeffery Carroll, the assailant "came around the corner" and "immediately started firing a firearm" at the troops.

Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome program and had been residing in Washington state.

In response to the attack, President Donald Trump ordered an additional 500 National Guard troops to be deployed to Washington, D.C., expanding the existing force of over 2,200 troops.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an indefinite halt to the processing of all immigration requests related to Afghan nationals, pending a comprehensive review of security and vetting protocols.

The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation into the shooting, with authorities treating the incident as an act of terrorism.

The two wounded National Guard members, both from the West Virginia National Guard, remain in critical condition.

The suspect is currently hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and is not cooperating with authorities.

The motive for the attack remains under investigation.