After being shot close to the White House, two West Virginia National Guard members received serious injuries. The attack was referred to as a “targeted shooting” by officials.
Donald Trump, the president of the United States, described the shooting as an “act of evil, an act of hatred, and an act of terror.”
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In a busy tourist destination, the shooting took place just one day before Thanksgiving.
What’s known about the shooting, the alleged attacker, and what’s coming next?
What transpired in Washington, D.C.
A lone suspect allegedly opened fire on a member of the National Guard at around 2:15 pm local time (19:15 GMT).
The suspect, who was also shot during the altercation, is still in police custody and is receiving treatment there.
According to Jeffery Carroll, executive assistant chief, “It appears to be a lone gunman who raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard.”
The suspect approached three National Guard members before opening fire, according to a CNN report. Before appearing to attempt another shot, he shot one guard before striking the next one, standing over the first victim. The third guardsman then opened fire.
Trump was in Florida at the time of the incident.
925 people from the DC National Guard and more than 1,200 from other states have been stationed in the US capital, making up roughly 2,200 National Guard members.
The National Guard is what?
The National Guard is a reserve division of the US military that can assist missions abroad and be called up when there are emergencies at home, such as civil unrest or natural disasters.
It has about 431,000 members, making it the second-largest military force in the nation, made up of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard.
Each US state and territory has its own National Guard units, as does Washington, D.C. These departments answer both the federal government and state leaders. This is different from the traditional US military, where active duty personnel are commanded by the president at all times.
West Virginia’s National Guard was the only one of two soldiers who were hurt on Wednesday, according to Governor Patrick Morrisey.
A federal judge ruled that Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, DC was likely unlawful, and a temporary stop was placed last week. The Trump administration fought to have that decision overturned following the shooting.
Where was the location of the shooting?
Farragut Square, a tourist-heavy area close to the White House and a busy transit center, was where the shooting took place.
Farragut Square in downtown Washington, DC, was designed by Pierre L’Enfant in 1791.
The area features two stops on the Washington metro system, fast-casual restaurants, a coffee shop, and wreath-covered holiday holiday lampposts.
The suspect is who?
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, is the suspect, according to the investigation.
Lakanwal was reportedly brought back to the US from Afghanistan in September 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome, a program that Joe Biden launched to reset Afghans after the Taliban regained control of the country following US withdrawal.
According to Trump, “I can report tonight that the Department of Homeland Security is confident that the suspect in custody is a foreigner who came into our country from Afghanistan – a hellhole on Earth,” according to a video message.
One of the many unvetted, mass paroled into the United States under Operation Allies Welcome on September 8, 2021, under the Biden Administration, is an Afghan national who shot our brave National Guardsmen.
I won’t say the name of this evil person. …
Operation Allies Welcome: What Is It?
Afghans who had fled their nation after the Taliban took control of the US program Operation Allies Welcome were helped by US forces in 2021. Many of these Afghans feared being targeted because they had previously worked as interpreters, drivers, or support personnel for the US. Additionally, women’s rights activists and journalists were in danger.
Tens of thousands of Afghans were transported there as part of the program to undergo medical examinations, vaccinations, and immigration processing. Before being relocated to different communities across the nation, they also passed security checks.
The initiative, which lasted for roughly a year, was supported by the Congressional Research Service, which claimed about 76, 000 Afghans entered the US. Some Republicans who criticized the program later criticized the vetting procedure as being insufficient.
What comes next?
Trump announced plans to increase deportation efforts after the attack, and said his administration would re-examine Afghans who had arrived after the Taliban took control. He said, “We must now re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan.”
According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, all Afghan immigration requests are being processed “pending further review of security and vetting protocols.”
Separately, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Washington, DC, would be home to an additional 500 National Guard members from a state that has yet to be named to increase security and reassure the general public.
Indefinitely, processing of all immigration requests involving Afghan nationals is stopped until security and vetting procedures are reviewed.
Our main priority is always the safety and security of our country and the American people.
What responses have been received?
Trump stated in his statement that he was “determined to ensure that the animal who committed this atrocity pays the highest possible price.”
He declared, “We are not going to tolerate these kinds of assaults on law and order by people who shouldn’t even be in our country.”
President Trump makes remarks about the horrific massacre of Great National Guard Warriors https://t.co/xDxRzJENU0
The organization, which supports Afghans who seek to immigrate, has endorsed the president of #AfghanEvac, which claims the attacker should be held accountable and put on trial. He did, however, warn against using the incident to “demonize the Afghan community.”
Our response to the horrifying shooting of today.
The brave guardsmen who were attacked today receive our condolences.
We will not allow one evil asshole’s deed to be the justification for harming another entire group of people. pic. twitter.com/LcMODaYEXD
Former President Joe Biden claimed the shooting left him and his wife, Jill, “heartbroken.”
“We must all stand together against violent behavior of any kind. On X, Biden wrote, “We are praying for the service members and their families.
The shooting of two National Guard members outside the White House has both affected both Jill and I. Any kind of violence is unacceptable, and we must all unite against it. We are praying for the families of the service members.
Former US President Barack Obama blasted the attack in a statement on social media that read, “Violence has no place in America.”
In America, there is no place for violence. As the servicemembers were shot in Washington, DC today, Michelle and I are praying for their families as they navigate the most agonizing holiday season.
The National Guard’s general, General Steven Nordhaus, stated that he was visiting Guantanamo Bay to spend Thanksgiving with US troops at the military base while he was in Washington, DC.
The two West Virginia National Guard heroes who were shot while protecting our nation’s capital were being treated for their recovery, according to SEA Raines and the entire National Guard family. pic. twitter.com/iOj465v1Aa
Source: Aljazeera
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