Two members of the US National Guard were critically wounded on Wednesday afternoon in what authorities described as a “targeted” attack near the White House, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed. The suspect, who was also shot, is in custody.
The shooting occurred in Farragut Square, a busy area near a major transit hub and popular tourist spot, just a day before the Thanksgiving holiday. The incident prompted an immediate lockdown of multiple government buildings, including the White House, according to reports by USA Today.
Law enforcement sources identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, according to NBC News. The FBI believes Lakanwal, originally from Afghanistan, immigrated to the US in 2021 and was granted asylum earlier this year. Officials said the shooting will initially be investigated as a possible act of terrorism.
President Donald Trump reacted on Truth Social, using dehumanising language to describe the suspect and vowing severe consequences. “The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price,” Trump wrote.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth later announced that Trump had directed him to request an additional 500 National Guard members for Washington DC following the attack. “This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington, DC, safe and beautiful,” Hegseth said. “But if criminals want to conduct things like this, violence against America’s best, we will never back down.”
The rare shooting of National Guard personnel comes amid ongoing debate over the deployment of troops in US cities, a policy that has sparked legal challenges and public controversy in recent months.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attack, while security measures in the capital have been heightened.
