US President Donald Trump described the brutal attack on the troops as a "act of terror" in his speech on Wednesday, hours after two National Guard members were shot down close to the White House. He called on Biden to reexamine "every single alien" who came to the US from Afghanistan.
Trump declared that his government would "reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan" under the administration of Joe Biden. "This heinous assault was an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror," he stated.
"The Department of Homeland Security is certain that the suspect in custody is a foreign national who entered our country from Afghanistan based on the best available information. In September 2021, the Biden administration flew him in, Trump declared.
The mayor called the shooting of two West Virginia National Guard men, which occurred mere steps from the White House on Wednesday, a "targeted attack."
FBI Director Kash Patel and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser discussed the matter, stating that they were in critical condition in the hospital.
The infrequent shooting incident involving National Guard men occurs at a time when the military' presence in Washington and other US cities has been a contentious subject for months.
In addition to fueling legal disputes, the issue has sparked a larger public policy discussion over the Trump administration's deployment of the military to address what officials describe as an uncontrollably high crime rate.
On condition of anonymity, a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the subject publicly told AP that a suspect who was in custody was also shot and had wounds that were not thought to be life threatening.
The suspect is thought to be an Afghan national who entered the country in September 2021 and has been residing in Washington state, according to two law enforcement officials and a person knowledgeable with the situation who spoke to the news agency. US President Trump further reaffirmed this claim.
Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, but they claimed they were still trying to properly verify his past. The individuals talked to AP under the condition of anonymity and were unable to discuss specifics of an ongoing inquiry.
The Trump administration promptly sent 500 additional National Guard personnel to the capital after two National Guard members were shot in Washington.
President Donald Trump requested that the troops be sent, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Nearly 2,200 soldiers are currently deployed to the joint task force working in the city, according to the government's most recent update.
