Washington, Nov 27: Former US President Barack Obama has condemned the Washington shooting that left two National Guard members critically injured, stating that “violence has no place in America.”
The alleged shooter has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021. The attack occurred less than 500 metres from the White House, prompting a heightened security response in the capital.
In a post on X, Obama said, “Violence has no place in America. Michelle and I are praying for the servicemembers shot in Washington, DC today, and send our love to their families as they enter this holiday season under the most tragic of circumstances.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris also offered her support, posting, “Doug and I send our prayers to the two National Guardsmen who were shot earlier today in Washington, to their families, and to the communities that love them. Violence of any kind is unacceptable, and we all, together, must condemn this tragedy.”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump described the incident as an “act of terror,” calling it “a crime against our entire nation… a crime against humanity.” Trump identified the suspect as a “foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan” and blamed the Biden administration for admitting him under refugee status.
Trump announced plans to reassess the immigration status of all Afghans admitted under the previous administration and ordered the deployment of 500 additional National Guard troops to strengthen security in Washington.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the case will be prosecuted at the federal level, given that it involved an assault on federal law enforcement officers.
Washington currently hosts approximately 2,400 National Guard personnel, including about 958 from the DC National Guard and roughly 1,300 from eight other states.
The shooting has sparked nationwide concern over the safety of federal personnel and the security of high-profile areas near the White House.