A man accused of shooting and critically injuring two US National Guard soldiers near the White House on Wednesday has been identified by American media as an Afghan national who previously worked alongside US forces in Afghanistan.
Authorities have arrested the suspect, and Washington has labelled the attack an act of terror, triggering tighter scrutiny of Afghan arrivals to the US.
Here are four things to know about the suspected shooter:
Early Arrival After Kabul’s Fall
According to US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the suspect arrived in the United States on September 8, 2021, less than a month after the Taliban captured Kabul. He was among thousands admitted under Operation Allies Welcome, the emergency relocation programme created as the US withdrew from Afghanistan.
Evacuation Under Operation Allies Welcome
The Biden administration launched the initiative to resettle Afghans who supported US missions — including interpreters, security personnel, and civil society advocates — during the 20-year foreign presence. Many evacuees were eligible for Special Immigrant Visas, though it is unclear whether the suspect held one. All entrants underwent vetting by multiple agencies, including the FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center.
Mass Displacement After the US Withdrawal
Following the chaotic scenes at Kabul airport in 2021, more than 190,000 Afghans have since been resettled under Operation Allies Welcome and its successor, Enduring Welcome. Tens of thousands more, many of them former military personnel and translators, are still awaiting relocation. Advocacy groups say a recent travel ban imposed by former President Donald Trump has further complicated reunification for thousands of Afghan families.
Former Afghan Soldier Identified
Multiple US outlets — including CNN, The New York Times, CBS and NBC — identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal. Relatives told NBC that he served for about 10 years in the Afghan National Army, supporting US Special Forces. He reportedly hailed from Khost province and spent part of his military career in Kandahar, a region central to some of the fiercest battles of the war.
The shooting, carried out just two blocks from the White House, has brought renewed attention to Afghan resettlement in the US and prompted new security reviews focused on recent arrivals.
