BELLINGHAM, Washington — The alleged Afghan terrorist accused of executing one Nationwide Guard soldier and critically wounding one other simply blocks from the White Home ought to by no means have been allowed into the US, the CIA director mentioned Thursday.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal and his household have been welcomed into the US 4 years in the past after serving in a CIA-backed elite Afghan commando “Zero Unit” that was accused of torture and the brutal homicide of civilians.
After his war-torn nation fell to barbaric Taliban rule, the 29-year-old was given a $2,000-per-month residence within the quiet city of Bellingham, Washington, neighbors advised The Submit — together with, reportedly, a contracting gig at Amazon.
“This particular person — and so many others — ought to have by no means been allowed to return right here,” CIA director John Ratcliffe mentioned in response to the taking pictures, revealing that Lakanwal beforehand labored for a unit tied to the spy company.
“Our residents and servicemembers deserve much better than to endure the continuing fallout from the Biden Administration’s catastrophic failures. God bless our courageous troops.”
Following the assault, the Division of Homeland Safety introduced it could cease processing immigration requests for Afghan nationals pending a evaluation of safety protocols and that “all” Biden-era asylum instances could be scrutinized. President Trump additionally directed a sweeping evaluation of inexperienced card holders from 19 international locations of concern.
Lakanwal served within the elite NDS-03 counterterrorism unit in Afghanistan, one among a minimum of 5 paramilitary “Zero Models” that labored with the CIA, in response to the nonprofit group #AfghanEvac.
Lakanwal was vetted by the CIA and checked by way of the Nationwide Counterterrorism Middle, a senior US official advised CNN. “He was clear on all checks,” the official mentioned.
Requested how an Afghan cleared to work with the CIA may commit such a heinous assault in america, Trump replied: “He went cuckoo. I imply, he went nuts.”
A childhood good friend of Lakanwal’s mentioned the taking pictures suspect suffered psychological issues from what he noticed in Afghanistan.
“When he noticed blood, our bodies, and the wounded, he couldn’t tolerate it,” the good friend advised the New York Occasions. “It put lots of stress on his thoughts.”
As a result of his service to the US, Lakanwal was let into America in 2021 underneath “Operation Allies Welcome,” a Biden administration program to assist Afghans who fought in opposition to the Taliban escape the war-torn nation within the wake of the disastrous American withdrawal.
“He betrayed his household. He betrayed each American that helped him get right here. He betrayed america authorities,” Shawn VanDiver, founder and president of #AfghanEvac, a nonprofit run by American veterans serving to resettle Afghan allies within the US, however not Lakanwal.
“He deserves to be held totally accountable,” VanDiver added, fearing that the taking pictures Lakanwal is accused of committing may impression different allies who’ve been resettled within the US. “However Afghan households didn’t do that.”
Operation Allies Welcome has beforehand confronted scrutiny over alarming flaws in its vetting course of, together with points that have been highlighted in two Division of Homeland Safety Inspector Basic experiences.
One in every of these damning experiences carried out in 2022 discovered that Division of Homeland Safety officers “didn’t at all times have crucial knowledge to correctly display screen, vet, or examine the evacuees.” Beneath the Biden-era program, roughly 76,000 Afghans have been admitted into the US.
Trump halted all Afghan refugee resettlement within the US and journey from Afghanistan shortly after being sworn in for his second time period. The Trump administration introduced on Wednesday that it had indefinitely stopped “processing of all immigration requests regarding Afghan nationals.”
After being welcomed within the US, Lakanwal, his hijab-covered spouse and their 5 kids settled within the idyllic northwest Washington metropolis of Bellingham. He largely lived a quiet life in a contemporary residence constructing, the place he typically performed Name of Obligation and FIFA, neighbors advised The Submit.
“Bellingham could be very liberal,” a neighbor defined, describing the realm he settled in as “very welcoming. Very numerous. Very open.”
Whereas it’s not totally clear what his final job was, a relative advised NBC Information that Lakanwal labored as a contractor for Amazon Flex, a supply service by which contract staff make deliveries with their very own automobiles.
“We have been those that have been focused by the Taliban in Afghanistan,” the relative advised the outlet. “I can not consider it that he would possibly do that.”
Lakanwal had utilized for asylum in December 2024 and later obtained approval underneath the Trump administration in April of this 12 months.
For causes that also aren’t clear, Lakanwal allegedly determined to go on a cross-country trek and perform what officers described as a “focused” taking pictures rampage in Washington, DC, simply blocks away from the White Home.
West Virginia Nationwide Guard members, Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was killed and Andrew Wolfe, 24, was critically wounded within the ambush assault. Beckstrom died on Thanksgiving, Trump introduced on Thursday.
“She was savagely attacked, she’s useless,” Trump mentioned throughout an deal with to army members.
A 3rd guardsman shortly rushed off and neutralized the suspect, stabbing him with a pocketknife, whereas a fourth opened hearth on him. The suspect was then carried away bare.
It took federal brokers about 16 hours to bust down Lakanwal’s mustard-colored entrance door, in response to his neighbors.
“They took all people out of the residence however I don’t suppose the youngsters have been there. It’s fairly surprising. Each signal on this planet is pointing [to Lakanwal being the shooter] however there are some issues that simply aren’t including up,” a neighbor advised The Submit.
Lakanwal was going through a minimum of three counts of assault with intent to kill and felony possession of a weapon, previous to information of Beckstrom’s loss of life. However US Lawyer for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro warned these prices would escalate if one of many wounded handed away. Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi predicted prosecutors will search the loss of life penalty in opposition to Lakanwal.
“That is what occurs on this nation when persons are allowed in who aren’t correctly vetted,” a visibly angered Pirro mentioned throughout a Thursday press briefing.
“This was not simply an assault; it was a direct problem to regulation and order in our nation’s capital.”
A motive for the taking pictures rampage has not been publicly revealed.
Within the wake of the assault, Trump ordered a further 500 Nationwide Guard troops to defend DC, which comes on prime of the greater than 2,100 troops assigned to the Joint Job Pressure District of Columbia, per the Pentagon. The Nationwide Guard has been in DC since Aug. 11.
— Emily Crane contributed reporting
