Shooting reported near White House

[otto]

I think it's likely that he joined the Afghan army at 15 and not necessarily working with the US Army at that point, but it's possible the news wrote he worked with the US Army for 10 years when it's just that he was in the Afghan Army for 10 years and during those years he worked alongside the US Army. Here in the US it's typically 17 with parent consent or 18 otherwise to being serving, but other countries have different ages. IMO

I haven't read anything that states he enlisted in the Afghan army. I have only read that he worked with the US CIA and alongside US commandos for 10 years.

Is there a US news outlet reporting that he served with the Afghan army?

"CIA Director Ratcliffe told Fox News that Rahmanullah Lakanwal worked with the Americans in Kandahar, including through his intelligence agency."

same link as above

 

[JennieM]

National Guard shooting suspect worked with CIA in Afghanistan​

Mr Lakanwal helped guard US forces at Kabul airport as thousands scrambled to escape Afghanistan before the Taliban took power, a former military commander who served alongside him told the BBC's Afghan Service.

The father of five had been recruited to Unit 03 of the Kandahar Strike Force, nine years earlier.

His unit was known locally as Scorpion Forces, operating initially under the CIA but eventually for the Afghan intelligence department known as the National Directorate of Security.

Mr Lakanwal was a GPS tracker specialist, the former commander told the BBC, describing him as a "sporty and jolly character".

His whole unit was moved from Kandahar to Kabul five days before the Taliban entered the capital. They continued to protect the airport for another six days, before they too were airlifted out to the US.

In the wake of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, the Biden administration - with bipartisan support - created a programme called Operation Allies Welcome that allowed around 77,000 Afghans to enter the US under special immigration protections.

The programme was in place for about a year following the US withdrawal.

Mr Lakanwal, 29, was among those who entered the US through this programme, and was paroled into the US on humanitarian grounds back in 2021 CBS, the BBC's US news partner reported.

National Guard shooting suspect worked with CIA in Afghanistan before coming to US

The suspect had been recruited to Unit 03 of the Kandahar Strike Force, a former military commander told the BBC, coming to the US after the withdrawal.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[knla]

I imagine he could of had any number of issues, some of which you illustrated. But.... I really like @NuttMegg 's inclusion of a possible loss of social status and difficulty adjusting to life in the United States.

Looking at what he was....

- Likely assessed as a very low risk immigrant as he served in an elite anti Taliban commando force for years. Likewise, he was closely affiliated with US Special Forces and the CIA.

Likewise, looking at what is apparently lacking in his attack:

- Apparently no manifesto, no sworn allegiance to Al Queda or ISIS. No apparent signs of radicalization via traditional clothes, mega beard etc. No justifications using verses from the Koran etc.

My guess is that the core motive could be a blend of spices: A lot of life issues, not happy with life and wants out. He then does a "suicide by cop-" in a way guaranteed to get negative attention.

But most of the radicalized terrorists seem to have been unsuccessful in their life's pursuits. The French quarter truck attacker and Mohammed Atta come to mind. Why leave your wife and 5 kids behind to fend for themselves?

 

[knla]

Hero Guardsman took down Afghan terror attacker with pocket knife — how the ambush went down

The terror suspect accused of shooting two National Guard troops just blocks from the White House was taken down with a simple pocket knife by a heroic guardsman who rushed to the scene, according …

nypost.com

This article says that Rahmanullah Lakanwal
was brought down by 2 guardsmen, the first only armed with a pocket knife.

​

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Is it common for 15 year old kids to serve alongside US forces overseas? Honest question, as I have no idea, and have never heard of such a thing.

It shouldn't be. From memory, the UN convention on the rights of the child precludes them legally being placed in active or combat situations.

 

[NuttMegg]

Maybe. It's also possible that a 15 year old CIA spy (in a sense) could hide in plain sight.

I really doubt that the American forces (or any other) would have an age qualification in such wars, for local help. Highly doubt it. The use of teens or kids to blend in would be invaluable. Translator services. A dozen things I can think of. Even in our own civil war it was wink wink only 17 or 18, depending N or S. But kids could enroll at 16 as "musicians", then grab a weapon.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

What will happen to this man's wife and five children? They were granted asylum in April 2025. Will that be withdrawn? Will they be sent to live under the Taliban in Afghanistan, or will they be left alone as victims of a terrible tragedy?

Given the reported timings it's very likely that one or more of the children were born in the US and are therefore US citizens. Could they be legally deported?

 

[otto]

Is it common for 15 year old kids to serve alongside US forces overseas? Honest question, as I have no idea, and have never heard of such a thing.

It sounds like Canada, and most likely the US, used 15 year old Afghan children as translators.

"But in 2006, their peaceful lives were shaken up as the Taliban regained power in many parts of Afghanistan. Amidst the violence, Naqibullah was offered a job as an interpreter for the Canadian Armed Forces. She was 15 years old."

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/dnto/stories-from-afghanistan-1.3274543/life-in-afghanistan-as-canada-s-only-female-interpreter-1.3274734

 

[otto]

Given the reported timings it's very likely that one or more of the children were born in the US and are therefore US citizens. Could they be legally deported?

The suspect arrived in the US in 2021 with his wife and five children. The family was granted asylum in April 2025. I too am curious whether the US can withdraw that asylum status and send his family back to live under Taliban rule. Is his family victims of tragedy, or will they be punished for his actions?

According to his family, he started working for US commandos at age 15. He worked with the CIA until age 25, when he and his family arrived in the US.

What happened next? Did he have a job? Was he allowed to work? What happened between 2021, when he arrived, and now, when he is really angry?

"The Associated Press spoke with the suspect's former landlord, who said he moved to the city of Bellingham in the far northwest of the US in 2021. He had his wife and five children with him."

VS schort asielverzoeken Afghanen op na aanslag op Garde in Washington

Voor de aanslag zit een Afghaanse immigrant vast. Twee gardisten raakten ernstig gewond.

nos.nl

 

[NuttMegg]

I imagine he could of had any number of issues, some of which you illustrated. But.... I really like @NuttMegg 's inclusion of a possible loss of social status and difficulty adjusting to life in the United States.

Looking at what he was....

- Likely assessed as a very low risk immigrant as he served in an elite anti Taliban commando force for years. Likewise, he was closely affiliated with US Special Forces and the CIA.

Likewise, looking at what is apparently lacking in his attack:

- Apparently no manifesto, no sworn allegiance to Al Queda or ISIS. No apparent signs of radicalization via traditional clothes, mega beard etc. No justifications using verses from the Koran etc.

My guess is that the core motive could be a blend of spices: A lot of life issues, not happy with life and wants out. He then does a "suicide by cop-" in a way guaranteed to get negative attention.

Upthread an article was posted, apparently he was very upset that a good friend who also worked for the Americans was denied a visa. Then died in 2024. Although the cause of death was not specified. I can easily see that shoving him off the rails. The anniversary of his friends death, possibly. But I don't understand the indiscriminate choice of victims.

 

[otto]

After US commando employees are transported to the US, screened by law enforcement and counter-terrorism professionals from homeland security, the FBI and intelligence partners ... and vaccinated ... and sent to a community to live ... what then? I'm curious to understand what went wrong.

Are there language programs for the family, job training and education opportunities? What has the family been doing for the past 4 years?

"Prior to entering the United States, Afghan evacuees must successfully complete a rigorous, multi-layered screening and vetting process that includes biometric and biographic screenings conducted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals from the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense, and State; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the National Counterterrorism Center; and other Intelligence Community partners. Afghan evacuees also received age-appropriate vaccinations – which include measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), varicella, polio, and COVID-19 prior to joining communities across the United States. All OAW arrivals are tested for COVID-19."

https://www.northcom.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/Article/2942962/operation-allies-welcome-announces-departure-of-all-afghan-nationals-from-us-mi/

https://www.northcom.mil/OAW/

 

[Cryptic]

Upthread an article was posted, apparently he was very upset that a good friend who also worked for the Americans was denied a visa. Then died in 2024. Although the cause of death was not specified. I can easily see that shoving him off the rails. The anniversary of his friends death, possibly. But I don't understand the indiscriminate choice of victims.

His friends death may of been a contributing factor. I would also want to see if there were any issues from say, wife and children acculturating faster than perhaps he was. Perhaps he felt like he was losing control over his family.

In regards to the poor victims, they may have been "targeted but random" ala: I want out through suicide by cop. If I don't immediately see police per se, I am going to attack the first authority figures that I see.

 

[Cryptic]

After US commando employees are transported to the US, screened by law enforcement and counter-terrorism professionals from homeland security, the FBI and intelligence partners ... and vaccinated ... and sent to a community to live ... what then? I'm curious to understand what went wrong.

Maybe nothing went "wrong"? Perhaps the attack was purely a personal choice made by the shooter- and he alone is to blame?

In regards to language, job training and placement, they make perfect sense in theory. But, then factor in that millions of migrants entered the United States in the open border period. Then add a very large number of legal immigrants such as the individual in question.

Alot of these people could likely from the various programs that you described. Given the sheer numbers, however, I don't know how much assistance in the practical sense can be given to individuals and individual families.

 

[NuttMegg]

His friends death may of been a contributing factor. I would also want to see if there were any issues from say, wife and children acculturating faster than perhaps he was. Perhaps he felt like he was losing control over his family.

In regards to the poor victims, they may have been "targeted but random" ala: I want out through suicide by cop. If I don't immediately see police per se, I am going to attack the first authority figures that I see.

If he had 5 girls I'd say definitely there could be cultural issues. Let's say he started having kids at 17, the oldest would
be 12 or so now. Who knows. I've seen pics of Afghanistan back in the 70s when it was on the gringo trail, so to speak. Afghan teens in mini-skirts, big hair, makeup, looking just like American teens then. So maybe he doesn't share the draconian cultural values of the taliban.

At first when I heard he shot the national guard female, 2 or more times I thought it might be some misogynistic act. But now I'm tending to believe he WAS upset about the death of his friend who was denied a visa, maybe the whole family was killed by the taliban. And when he got to DC he was just so pumped up that he acted. He may not have known the status of the victims.

 

[Charlot123]

I haven’t seen a picture of him. Could you please share one? Tyia

There are tone on "images"

This is the most common one

National Guard shooting suspect served in CIA counterterrorism unit, group says

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan man who allegedly shot two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., had served in one of Afghanistan's elite counterterrorism units, according to a nonprofit run by people who served in Afghanistan.

www.iowapublicradio.org

This is him in earlier age

Washington attacker worked with US military in Afghanistan - The Statesman

The CIA confirmed that the 29-year-old suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who worked with a US-supported military unit during the war in Afghanistan.

www.thestatesman.com

The one of him wounded has mostly disappeared but you can probably find in on "one of the big sites"

Two things I have noticed is how much weight he has gained and the intensity of his eyes

 

[knla]

Exclusive | Inside American Dream life of alleged DC National Guard terrorist — as neighbors reveal dramatic FBI raid

FBI busted into Rahmanullah Lakanwal’s home during a raid on Wednesday.

nypost.com

 

[otto]

Maybe nothing went "wrong"? Perhaps the attack was purely a personal choice made by the shooter- and he alone is to blame?

In regards to language, job training and placement, they make perfect sense in theory. But, then factor in that millions of migrants entered the United States in the open border period. Then add a very large number of legal immigrants such as the individual in question.

Alot of these people could likely from the various programs that you described. Given the sheer numbers, however, I don't know how much assistance in the practical sense can be given to individuals and individual families.

The shooter and his family were screened by homeland security, counter-terrorism and the FBI. They passed. Presumably, after 10 years (since age 15) working with the CIA and US commandos, he aligned with the US.

He was sent to Bellingham with his wife and 5 children in 2021. Only four years later, he shot two people. Something went wrong in the last 4 years for him to suddenly shoot two strangers. If we don't understand what went wrong, then it can happen again.

 

[knla]

Kash Patel: FBI Seized Evidence at Afghan Gunman's House

FBI officials are investigating the D.C. Afghan shooter Rahmanullah Lakanwal's associates and activities in the United States.

www.breitbart.com

Evidence at the Afghan shooter's home lead the FBI to San Diego.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Exclusive | Inside American Dream life of alleged DC National Guard terrorist — as neighbors reveal dramatic FBI raid

FBI busted into Rahmanullah Lakanwal’s home during a raid on Wednesday.

nypost.com

29 and his oldest is 14.
No beds, just couch cushions for sleeping.
Sat around playing a violent video game in his $2,000 a month apartment.

No mention of any kind of job or how he was providing for his family.

 

[otto]

Exclusive | Inside American Dream life of alleged DC National Guard terrorist — as neighbors reveal dramatic FBI raid

FBI busted into Rahmanullah Lakanwal’s home during a raid on Wednesday.

nypost.com

That answers my question. He was sitting around playing video games and they had no furniture, not even beds for the children. The family did not adapt to Western living.

"The Afghan terrorist accused of shooting two National Guard troops had been living a seemingly quiet family life in a $2,000-a-month apartment in this idyllic Washington state town – where neighbors said the FBI busted into his home during a Wednesday raid.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, was often seen playing Call of Duty and FIFA inside the bare apartment, which he shared with his hijab-wearing wife and his five kids, stunned neighbors in Bellingham told The Post on Thursday.

Neighbors said the refugees — who arrived in 2021 after the chaotic US pullout from Afghanistan — had no beds, and there were only “some couch cushions they would sleep on” inside the sparse apartment."

Exclusive | Inside American Dream life of alleged DC National Guard terrorist — as neighbors reveal dramatic FBI raid

FBI busted into Rahmanullah Lakanwal’s home during a raid on Wednesday.

nypost.com