Journalism of Courage
FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday confirmed that Rahmanullah Lakanwal — the suspect accused of shooting two US National Guard members — had prior links to American partner forces in Afghanistan.
Speaking at a news conference, Patel said Lakanwal “had a relationship in Afghanistan with partner forces,” adding that investigators are examining all aspects of his background, including contacts “overseas or here in the United States.”
Lakanwal, 29, arrived in the US in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, the programme that granted entry to Afghans who worked alongside the US government.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe separately told media that the suspect had also been connected to the agency. According to Ratcliffe, the Biden administration approved Lakanwal’s entry because of his previous work with US government entities, “including CIA,” describing him as part of a partner force in Kandahar before the 2021 evacuation.
https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1994056981003264498 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe officials on Thursday said that the suspect who shot the two National Guard members drove cross-country before the attack and faces assault and weapons charges.
Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for DC, said: “A lone gunman opened fire without provocation, ambush style, armed with a 357 Smith and Wesson revolver.”
She added that the suspect drove across the country from his home near Bellingham.
“He drove his vehicle cross-country from the state of Washington with the intended target of coming to our nation’s capital. The charges that are appropriate now are three counts of assaults — with intent to kill while armed, and violation of the DC code. He will also be charged with possession of a firearm. We intend to monitor what the charges will be depending upon the conditions of the guards,” Pirro said.
https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1994060975905857664 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsFollowing the Washington, DC shooting, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an indefinite suspension of all residency and immigration applications filed by Afghan nationals, citing the need to review security and vetting protocols.
In response to the attack, President Donald Trump deployed an additional 500 National Guard troops to the capital and labelled the shooting an “act of terror.” He said the administration would now move to remove foreign nationals “from any country who does not belong here,” adding that authorities must “re-examine every single alien” who entered from Afghanistan under the Biden-era programme.
