A 29-year-old Afghan man arrested for shooting two West Virginia National Guard soldiers near the White House had previously served alongside US forces, sources said.
Officials from the Afghan Taliban government said Rahmanullah Lakanwal was part of the elite “01 Unit” during the former Afghan Republic, a force created, trained, and outfitted by US intelligence agencies.
Taliban officials added that many former members of this unit are now struggling with serious psychological problems, which in some cases have led to suicides or violent attacks.
Washington shooting
Lakanwal, who authorities say “gravely wounded” two National Guard personnel, came to the United States during the tumultuous 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan.
According to The New York Post, he waited near the Farragut West Metro Station in Northwest Washington around 2:15 pm before ambushing the soldiers, shooting a female guard in the chest and then in the head.
He then allegedly turned his weapon on the second guard until another soldier rushed in and subdued him. Both victims—armed Guardsmen patrolling the area—were taken to a hospital, where they remain in critical condition.
Who is Rahmanullah Lakanwal?
Reports indicate that Lakanwal arrived in the US through Operation Allies Welcome and was resettled in Bellingham, Washington.
The programme brought nearly 76,000 Afghans to the US, many of whom had assisted American troops and diplomats.
The initiative has since drawn criticism from former President Trump, Republican lawmakers, and government watchdogs over concerns about vetting and the speed of resettlement, though supporters maintain it saved lives endangered by potential Taliban retaliation.
NBC and The Washington Post reported that Lakanwal had been living in Washington state, and that the FBI is examining whether the shooting may have been an act of terrorism.
Lakanwal was shot four times during the confrontation and transported to the hospital nearly unclothed after being disarmed.
Police said he acted alone. His motive is still unknown.
Reactions to the attack
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser described the incident as “a targeted shooting.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the administration has ordered an additional 500 troops to be deployed to the capital.
FBI Director Kash Patel told reporters that the case will proceed at the federal level because it involves “an assault on federal law enforcement officers.”
The deployment of National Guard units to Washington has grown in recent months as part of President Trump’s broader public-safety initiative, which has since extended to other major US cities.
Roughly 2,400 Guard members are now stationed in Washington—about 958 from the D.C. National Guard and around 1,300 from eight other states—with the mission extended through summer 2026.
The sustained troop presence remains politically divisive. Supporters argue that the Guard has helped stabilise high-crime areas, while critics contend that maintaining out-of-state military forces in civilian spaces risks blurring the line between policing and military action.
