(Washington) One of the two National Guard members attacked Wednesday in Washington by an Afghan suspect has died, US President Donad Trump announced Thursday.
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“Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the Guardsmen we’re talking about, a very respected person, young and beautiful, who started her service in June 2023, remarkable in every way, has just left us. She is no longer with us,” explained the Republican billionaire during a televised speech. The other soldier who was shot was “fighting for his life,” he added. “He is in very serious condition. He is fighting for his life, and we hope to receive better news about him. »
In shock after the attack in Washington on two National Guard soldiers by an Afghan suspect, the United States launched an investigation into terrorism on Thursday and will re-examine the “green cards” awarded to nationals of 19 countries deemed sensitive.
Committed on Wednesday by a 29-year-old Afghan, who arrived in the United States in 2021 after serving alongside the American army in Afghanistan, this act considered an “ambush” by the authorities immediately pushed Donald Trump to promise a toughening of his anti-immigration policy.
“We must take all necessary measures to ensure the expulsion of any foreigner from any country who has no place here or who does not bring any benefit to our country,” the American president insisted Wednesday evening.
Applying the presidential directive, the Director of Immigration Services (USCIS), Joseph Edlow, announced Thursday that he had “ordered a complete and rigorous review of each green card issued to any foreign national from countries deemed to be of concern.”
This permit granting the title of permanent resident in the United States will be re-examined for immigrants from Afghanistan, but also from 18 other countries including Venezuela, Haiti and Iran.
The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, drove across the country from Washington state in the northwest of the country to the federal capital on the east coast, according to Washington prosecutor Jeanine Pirro.
PHOTO NATHAN HOWARD, REUTERS
Washington Attorney Jeanine Pirro
There, he carried out a “targeted” attack against National Guard soldiers, opening fire on two of them with a Smith & Wesson revolver, “without provocation, as in an ambush”.
The two soldiers, a 20-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, were seriously injured and are in critical condition, said M.me Pirro. The suspect was neutralized by other National Guardsmen.
In recent months, Donald Trump has caused controversy by sending members of this army reserve corps to several Democratic cities, against the advice of local authorities, saying these reinforcements are necessary to fight crime and illegal immigration.
International investigation
The shooter was still hospitalized Thursday under close surveillance. The prosecutor said he would face three counts of armed assault with intent to kill.
His motive remains unknown.
According to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, he had worked with the US military in Afghanistan before being exfiltrated to the United States.
PHOTO ANTHONY PELTIER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Numerous police officers were deployed to the scene after the attack.
“We are fully investigating this aspect of his past,” FBI Director Kash Patel said at a news conference.
The federal police have launched an international investigation for terrorism and are also looking into “possible accomplices” in the country or abroad, he said.
He added that authorities were conducting searches in connection with the investigation, including at the suspect’s home in Washington state.
PHOTO MARK SCHIEFELBEIN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Members of the National Guard in Washington DC
Rahmanullah Lakanwal arrived in the United States a month after the hasty withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan during the presidency of Democrat Joe Biden, in August 2021, as part of an operation set up to help Afghans who collaborated with the Americans.
Officials from the FBI, CIA and Department of Homeland Security said he was not subject to scrutiny upon his arrival and benefited from what were considered lax reception policies put in place after the chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.
The American authorities announced after the attack that they would suspend the processing of immigration applications concerning Afghan nationals for an indefinite period.
AfghanEvac, an organization responsible for helping Afghans settle in the United States after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, assured that the Afghan community was subject to “some of the most thorough security checks (…) in immigration matters.
“This individual’s violent and isolated act should not be used as an excuse to define or demean an entire community,” warned the organization’s president, Shawn VanDiver.
According to the US State Department, more than 190,000 Afghans have arrived in the United States since the Taliban took power.
