【Text by Observers Net, Wang Yi】On the evening of November 26 local time, two U.S. National Guard members were shot near the White House, with serious injuries, and one suspect was arrested.

Subsequently, several U.S. officials disclosed that the suspect is Rahmanullah Rakhmanwal, an Afghan citizen aged 29, who served in the army in Kandahar province for 10 years, and had contacts with multiple U.S. agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), during his service. He entered the United States under the "Operation Allies Welcome" initiated by the Biden administration in 2021.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Fox News, "After Biden's disastrous withdrawal, the Biden administration brought him to the United States based on his previous collaboration with the U.S. government as a member of the Kandahar partner forces." However, Ratcliffe said this relationship ended shortly after the chaotic evacuation.

Ratcliffe also criticized the previous administration's "disastrous" decision in the Afghanistan withdrawal, which allowed foreigners without proper screening to enter the United States on temporary visas, saying, "This person - and many others - should not have been allowed here," and "Our citizens and military should not have to endure the ongoing consequences of the Biden administration's disastrous failure."

The scene of the incident has been cordoned off. National Public Radio (NPR)

Earlier that day, President Trump strongly criticized the "Operation Allies Welcome" launched by former President Biden, stating that the American people should be filled with "just anger and great determination" after the incident came to light.

According to information publicly released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2021, the operation aimed to "support vulnerable Afghans" and "safely resettle those who worked with us (the United States) over the past two decades in Afghanistan."

Under this operation, Rakhmanwal arrived in the United States in September 2021, reportedly settled in Bellingham, Washington. NBC reported that a relative of Rakhmanwal confirmed his personal experience, saying he had a wife and five sons, and was injured while supporting U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

However, this relative expressed shock at Rakhmanwal being accused of the shooting, saying, "In Afghanistan, we were the targets of the Taliban attacks," and "I can't believe he would do something like this."

The Daily Mail pointed out that for a long time, Biden has defended the disastrous withdrawal, which caused the deaths of 13 Americans and made the Afghan government supported by the U.S. vulnerable before the Taliban took control again.

According to CNN, Rakhmanwal entered the U.S. with a temporary visa issued by the Biden administration, but he is alleged to have applied for asylum in 2024, and his application was approved by the Trump administration in April of this year.

At night on November 26, Trump angrily addressed the nation and targeted the Biden administration, saying, "No country can tolerate such a risk that threatens our survival," "The detained suspect is a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan, Afghanistan is a hell on earth," "He was brought here by the Biden administration in September 2021, on those flights that everyone is talking about, no one knew who would come in."

At local time on the evening of November 26, Trump gave a national speech, criticizing Biden for allowing the suspect to enter the United States. Screenshot of video

"His status was extended under the legislation signed by President Biden, and Biden is a disastrous president, the worst president in our history," Trump criticized.

He also warned that his government would take action to re-examine "every foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan during Biden's term," "ensuring to remove any foreigner who does not belong here or is not beneficial to our country," "this vicious attack is an evil, hate-filled, and terrorist act. It is a crime against our entire nation. It is a crime against humanity... This attack highlights the most serious national security threat our country faces."

Shortly after Trump's speech, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced, "Immediately suspending the processing of all immigration applications related to Afghan nationals... waiting for further assessment of safety and review agreements."

CNN reported that the suspect was shot and is currently receiving treatment in the hospital. Police have found a gun believed to have been used in the attack. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the two National Guard members shot were receiving treatment at a local hospital with serious injuries. Previously, the governor of West Virginia announced their deaths on social media, then withdrew the statement, causing confusion.

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser revealed at a press conference, "What we currently know is that this is a targeted shooting. A suspect apparently targeted these National Guard members."

Since August, Trump has deployed 2,300 National Guard members to Washington D.C., as part of a so-called "fighting rampant crime in the capital" operation. Several Republican-led states, including West Virginia, have also sent National Guard members to Washington D.C.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that after the shooting, Trump ordered the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard members, and called the shooting an "cowardly, despicable act" targeting the best of America.

According to sources, the suspect is currently refusing to cooperate with the police. Sources said the suspect appeared to have deliberately chosen his target, first shooting a guard only a few feet away, and then firing at another guard trying to hide behind a bus stop booth.

The scene of the incident is just two blocks away from the White House. Map by The Washington Post

The shooting occurred at the "Farragut West Metro Station", which is only two blocks away from the White House. However, at the time of the incident, Trump was not in the White House and had flown to Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving.

Photos show that the area around the incident site in downtown Washington is now cordoned off with police lines.

This article is an exclusive contribution from Observer Net. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7577384850328388138/

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