Two members of the National Guard were shot on Wednesday in a busy area near the White House in downtown Washington, officials said, putting the building into lockdown.
Kash Patel, the Director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, stated that both Guard members were in critical condition while addressing the press.
In remarks given later Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump called the shooting "an act of evil, an act of hatred, and an act of terror."
The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered the United States in 2021.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that, effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests for Afghan nationals is suspended indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols.
Shooter had worked in Afghanistan with partner forces
US FBI Director Kash Patel said on Thursday that the suspected shooter of two National Guard members had worked in Afghanistan with partner forces.
"We are fully investigating that aspect of his background as well to include any known associates that are either overseas or here in the United States of America, that is what a broad-based international terrorism investigation looks like," Patel said at a news conference.
A Trump administration official said the suspected shooter had been transported to a hospital with gunshot wounds.
Trump is at his resort in Palm Beach ahead of Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday, while US Vice President JD Vance is in Kentucky.
US President Donald Trump denounced the shooting in a statement on Truth Social.
He said that the two victims were both critically wounded and currently receiving emergency treatment in two separate hospitals.
"The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen... is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price," Trump said in the statement.
The US Federal Aviation Administration temporarily paused arrivals and departures at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport due to law enforcement activity in the area.
The US Secretary of War Pete Hesgeth announced that President Trump had asked him to ask the Secretary of the Army to deploy 500 additional National Guardsmen to Washington, DC.
The US Secret Service did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
President Isaac Herzog expressed his "deep sorrow and heartfelt condolences" for the families and loved ones of the victims on x/Twitter.
"From Israel, we send a message of friendship and solidarity to @POTUS, @realDonaldTrump, and all those serving in and around the White House," Herzog said, "We stand shoulder to shoulder with our greatest friend and ally, the United States of America."
This is a developing story.