Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Nov 27: In a disturbing incident that unfolded just blocks away from the White House, US authorities have identified 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal as the suspected gunman who opened fire on two West Virginia National Guard members on patrol. The attack, which occurred near the Farragut West Metro Station around 2:15 pm, left both guards critically injured.
According to US media reports, Lakanwal arrived in America under Operation Allies Welcome following the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal and had been resettled in Bellingham, Washington. Law enforcement sources cited by The New York Post said the suspect waited at the street corner before ambushing the guards, shooting a female soldier in the chest and then the head, before turning his weapon on the second guard.
A nearby National Guard member swiftly intervened and shot Lakanwal, reportedly hitting him four times, after which he was taken away in an ambulance, nearly unclothed, due to emergency medical procedures. Police confirmed that he acted alone, while the motive behind the violent attack remains unknown.
NBC and The Washington Post reported that the FBI is now probing the incident as a possible act of terrorism, a development that has heightened concern across the capital.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser condemned the shooting as a “targeted attack”, calling for resilience and unity as investigations unfold.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced an immediate reinforcement of security measures, revealing that the administration has ordered the deployment of 500 additional troops to Washington.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the case would be prosecuted at the federal level, emphasising that an assault on members of the National Guard constitutes an attack on federal law enforcement.
In recent months, several states have dispatched National Guard personnel to Washington as part of President Trump’s expanded public safety crackdown. The deployment, now extended until summer 2026, includes nearly 2,400 troops—with 958 from the DC National Guard and around 1,300 from eight other states.
While officials argue that the troops have helped stabilise high-crime neighbourhoods, critics warn that prolonged military involvement in civilian policing risks eroding the divide between law enforcement and military operations.
As authorities continue to investigate the background and motive of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the nation remains on high alert, with security being further tightened around key federal zones in Washington DC