Afghan National in Washington Shooting Had Ties to U.S. Agencies

The Afghan national who fatally shot two National Guardsmen near the White House had connections with U.S. government agencies, including the CIA, during his time in Afghanistan.

Rahmanullah Rakanwar, 29, arrived in the U.S. about a month after the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 under Operation Welcome Allies.

Shooting Incident Details

Sources disclosed that Rakanwar had prior involvement with U.S. forces as part of a partner group in Kandahar. CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that the Biden administration justified Rakanwar’s relocation to the U.S. in September 2021 due to his association with U.S. agencies. However, he noted that the operation he was part of ended shortly after the tumultuous evacuation.

Ratcliffe expressed strong concern about allowing individuals like Rakanwar into the country, stating, “Our citizens and military members deserve far better than to endure the ongoing fallout from the Biden administration’s disastrous failures.”

The investigation is being led by the FBI, with multiple sources indicating it could be examined as a potential act of international terrorism. Currently, two National Guard members from West Virginia are in critical condition.

Community Reactions

In a late-night address, President Donald Trump condemned the shooting as a “savage attack,” detailing that one Guardsman was shot “at point-blank range.” He characterized the incident as an “act of evil, an act of hate, an act of terrorism.” Trump expressed solidarity with the families of the victims and emphasized a commitment to ensure justice for the perpetrators.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser labeled the incident a “targeted shooting,” confirming that the shooter was apprehended shortly after the attack.