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Two National Guard soldiers were left critically injured after a shooting in Washington DC, just a short distance from the White House, in what officials described as a Thanksgiving Eve "ambush."
According to authorities, a lone gunman opened fire on Wednesday afternoon (26 November). Other Guard members stationed nearby heard the shots and quickly intervened, ultimately subduing the attacker.
Here's everything we know:
What happened?
Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were patrolling near the corner of 17th and I streets around 2.15pm ET.
The suspected shooter came around a corner and "ambushed" them, according to a press briefing from Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll.
After an exchange of gunfire, other National Guard troops subdued the shooter, he said.
Two wounded guards were taken to hospital in critical condition, FBI Director Kash Patel said.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser called it a "targeted shooting".
What has Donald Trump said?
US President Donald Trump, who was in Florida at the time, held a live address where he called the incident "an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror."
"It was a crime against our entire nation; it was a crime against humanity. The hearts of all Americans tonight are with those – two members of the West Virginia National Guard and their families," he continued.
He also shared a post on X/Twitter, writing: "The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price
"God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement."
Who is suspected shooter Rahmanullah Lakanwal?
The suspected shooter has been identified as 29-year-old Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal. The Department of Homeland Security has since taken Lakanwal into custody.
Lakanwal resided in Washington State, with no known criminal history.
Officials say the alleged shooter appeared to have acted alone.
He reportedly entered the US in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, resettling thousands of Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the Afghanistan war, a Biden-era programme.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services agency announced an immediate and indefinite halt to the "processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals" pending a review of security and vetting protocols.
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