Federal investigators are examining the motives behind a shooting that left two National Guard soldiers in critical condition near the White House.
The incident occurred on Thanksgiving eve, involving an Afghan national who officials say ambushed the troops during their patrol.
The suspect was arrested after an exchange of gunfire.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, entered the United States in 2021 through a program to resettle Afghans who aided American forces.
He had served in the Afghan army for a decade alongside U.S. troops and later worked for Amazon.
Lakanwal drove from Washington state to the capital for the attack.
The soldiers, Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, from the West Virginia National Guard, were recently sworn in.
They were part of a deployment ordered by President Trump to address crime in the District of Columbia.
Investigation Details
The FBI's joint terrorism task force is leading the probe, searching properties in Washington state and San Diego.
Agents seized electronic devices including cellphones, laptops, and iPads from Lakanwal's residence.
Lakanwal, wounded in the shootout, used a .357 Magnum handgun.
He had no known criminal history and was granted asylum in April after applying in December 2024.
President Trump described the event as an act of terror and announced a review of Afghans admitted during the Biden administration.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has paused processing Afghan immigration requests indefinitely.
CIA officials noted Lakanwal's past involvement with agency-backed units in Afghanistan.
The shooting prompted a White House lockdown and additional troop deployments.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that 500 more National Guard troops would join the over 2,000 already in the capital.
Vice President JD Vance emphasized the need to deport unauthorized individuals.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser called it a targeted attack, while police described it as an ambush outside a subway station.
The deployment has faced legal challenges from D.C. officials, who argue it infringes on local authority.
A recent court ruling temporarily blocked certain Guard duties but delayed implementation.
Trump has extended similar mobilizations to other cities amid criticisms of harsh immigration tactics.
Critics claim the policies indiscriminately affect legal immigrants without criminal records.