Alleged National Guard shooter worked with US government entities in Afghanistan, including CIA: Ratcliffe
In a shocking turn of events, an Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, has been arrested for allegedly shooting two National Guard members just blocks from the White House. This incident has raised serious concerns about the vetting processes for Afghan evacuees, particularly in light of Lakanwal’s background as a former member of a partner force in Afghanistan who reportedly worked with the CIA. Lakanwal arrived in the United States in September 2021 as part of “Operation Allies Welcome,” a program established to assist those fleeing Afghanistan following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal. Intelligence sources revealed that Lakanwal had established relationships with various U.S. government entities, which ultimately facilitated his entry into the country during a tumultuous time.
The shooting, described as a “targeted attack,” has left the two West Virginia National Guardsmen in critical condition, prompting investigations by the FBI and raising fears of potential international terrorism. Former CIA Director John Ratcliffe criticized the Biden administration for allowing Lakanwal into the U.S., stating that individuals like him should never have been granted entry, especially considering the risks posed to American citizens and service members. During a national address, former President Donald Trump condemned the shooting as a “savage attack” and an “act of evil,” expressing solidarity with the victims and their families. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that the shooting was deliberate, emphasizing that law enforcement has taken swift action in apprehending the suspect.
This incident underscores the complex and often perilous nature of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, as well as the challenges faced in ensuring the safety of American citizens while honoring commitments to those who assisted U.S. forces. As the investigation unfolds, questions remain about the adequacy of the vetting process for Afghan evacuees and the broader implications for national security. The shooting serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing fallout from the withdrawal and the urgent need for a reassessment of policies regarding the entry of individuals with potential ties to extremist activities.
EXCLUSIVE:
The Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members blocks from the White House worked with various United States government entities, including the CIA, as a member of a partner force in
Afghanistan
, Fox News Digital has learned.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal,
29, entered the United States on the heels of the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 under the Biden administration. Lakanwal arrived in the U.S. a month later under “Operation Allies Welcome.”
TWO NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS SHOT NEAR WHITE HOUSE, AFGHAN NATIONAL SUSPECT IN CUSTODY: ‘ACT OF EVIL’
Intelligence sources told Fox News Digital that Lakanwal had a prior relationship with various entities in the U.S. government, including the CIA, due to his work as a member of a partner force in Kandahar.
“In the wake of the disastrous Biden withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden administration justified bringing the alleged shooter to the United States in September 2021 due to his prior work with the U.S. government, including CIA, as a member of a partner force in Kandahar, which ended shortly following the chaotic evacuation,” CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Fox News Digital.
“The individual—and so many others—should have never been allowed to come here,” Ratcliffe continued. “Our citizens and service members deserve far better than to endure the ongoing fallout from the Biden administration’s catastrophic failures.”Â
Ratcliffe added: “God bless our brave troops.”
Fox News Digital has learned that the FBI is taking the lead on the investigation.
2 NATIONAL GUARDSMEN CRITICALLY WOUNDED IN ‘TARGETED SHOOTING’ BLOCKS FROM WHITE HOUSE
Multiple high level intelligence sources told Fox News Digital that the shooting is being investigated as a possible act of
international terrorism.
FBI officials confirmed the two West Virginia National Guardsmen remain in critical condition.
In an online address to the nation late Wednesday, PresidentÂ
Donald Trump
 called the shooting a “savage attack” and described how one of the Guardsmen “was shot at point-blank range in a monstrous ambush-style attack just steps away from the White House.”
Trump added that the “heinous assault” was an “act of evil and act of hatred and an act of terror. It was a crime against our entire nation. It was a crime against humanity.”
“The hearts of all Americans tonight are with those two members of the West Virginia National Guard and their families,” he added. “The love of our entire country is pouring out for them, and we are lifting them up in our prayers as we are filled with anguish and grief for those who were shot, we’re also filled with righteous anger and ferocious resolve. As President of the United States, I am determined to ensure that the animal who perpetrated this atrocity pays the steepest possible price.”
“This is a targeted shooting,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser explained during a news conference Wednesday afternoon following the shooting. “One individual appeared to target these guardsmen. That individual has been taken into custody.”
