Shooting near the White House: Two soldiers seriously injured. An Afghan suspect arrested. The FBI is investigating as a terrorist attack. Trump: "He's an animal, he'll pay a very high price."

Washington – In the heart of the American capital, two blocks from the White House, Thanksgiving Eve was rocked by a shooting that seriously injured two members of the National Guard, deployed by the Trump administration to combat crime in the city. The attacker, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan citizen who arrived in the United States under a special program of the Biden administration in 2021, was arrested after a brief chase. Federal authorities have already launched an investigation into the possibility of terrorist act.

The attack occurred around 3:00 PM local time (9:00 PM in Italy), in an area usually crowded with tourists, made even more lively by the Thanksgiving holiday, one of the most important for Americans. According to the police, the man allegedly set up a veritable ambush: he would have emerged from a corner, raised his gun and opened fire, hitting the two soldiers in the head. Both are in critical condition.

Report of soldiers' deaths denied

The dramatic turn of events was exacerbated by the initial spread of news of the deaths of the two National Guard members. The governor of West Virginia confirmed it, but the FBI director quickly refuted it. Kash Patel, who assured at a press conference: “The two soldiers are alive, although in critical condition.”

The Director of the Bureau has guaranteed maximum investigative commitment, while the Attorney General Pam Bondi He called on social media to pray for the wounded soldiers.

Trump: "The animal will pay a very high price."

President Donald Trump, who was not at the White House at the time of the attack but at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, reacted harshly. On Truth Social, he called the attacker "an animal" and promised that "he will pay a very high price." He then praised the National Guard and all the American armed forces: "They are extraordinary people. I and the entire Presidency are with you."

According to CNN and other news outlets, Lakanwal—who was granted political asylum this year—lived in Washington state and apparently acted alone. He is not cooperating with investigators.

A targeted attack against the military

The mayor of Washington, Muriel bowser, declared that it was a “targeted attack” against members of the National Guard, explaining that initial reconstructions suggest a specific intent to hit the forces deployed to protect the city.

Washington's Deputy Police Chief, Jeff Carroll, confirmed that the attacker had ambushed the two soldiers. "After the shots were fired, other National Guard members present in the area quickly intervened, immobilizing the suspect and allowing his arrest," he said.

CNN also reports that the two soldiers may have opened fire first, perhaps to prevent a larger attack or to defend those present.

A militarized city in constant tension

The shooting comes in an already tense climate. Since August, President Trump has deployed over 2.000 National Guard soldiers on the streets of the capital as part of a large-scale anti-crime operation, which continued until February. Although no incidents had been reported to date, the constant presence of armed soldiers, bulletproof vests, and tactical vehicles has become part of residents' daily lives.

Some citizens express gratitude, others criticize the “militarization” of the city, seen by many as a symbol of the immigration and security policies strongly supported by Trump.

The Pentagon sends another 500 troops

After the attack, the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the sending of another 500 soldiers in Washington, declaring: “We will strengthen our resolve to make Washington safe and beautiful.”

The deployment represents one of the largest internal military interventions in recent years.

FBI and Department of Homeland Security on the ground

The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, confirmed full cooperation with the FBI and the immediate involvement of federal agents at the crime scene. The nature of the attack—targeted against uniformed personnel—has led authorities to open a preliminary investigation for domestic or international terrorism.

It will be up to the FBI to determine whether the attacker was motivated by extremist ideology, personal resentments, or whether he had any connections to radicalized groups.

Farnesina: Checks on the presence of Italians

The Farnesina announced that the Italian Embassy in the United States is investigating the possible involvement of Italian citizens in the shooting, although there are currently no direct indications of Italian victims or injuries.