Bondi, Noem: Suspect in DC National Guard shooting 'radicalized' in US

Authorities in the United States report that the individual accused of targeting two National Guard members near the White House on Wednesday became radicalized within the country after leaving Afghanistan.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, speaking on Fox News Sunday, addressed concerns regarding Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was reportedly screened by the CIA and the National Counterterrorism Center before entering the U.S. in 2021 under a program supporting Afghan allies of the U.S. during the two-decade conflict in Afghanistan.

Bondi stated, The shooter responsible for attacking our National Guardsmen in D.C., just before Thanksgiving, was radicalized. There will be further details coming, and these individuals should not have been allowed entry. She also mentioned that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is handling the matter of the suspects radicalization within the U.S.

In an interview on NBCs Meet the Press, Secretary Noem confirmed that national security assessments suggest the suspect was radicalized after arriving in the United States. However, she questioned the notion that he underwent thorough vetting. We believe his radicalization occurred here, likely through connections in his local community and state. We will continue discussions with those who interacted with him, including family members, Noem explained.

The suspect had served in a CIA-trained strike force in Afghanistan, a role that normally requires comprehensive vetting. Noem criticized the Biden administrations handling during the Afghanistan withdrawal, noting that many individuals were brought to the U.S. without prior vetting, with plans to conduct background checks afterward. She emphasized that proper vetting would have required cooperation from a stable Afghan government to access service records, biometric data, and other identifying information.

Noem also defended the prior asylum approval under the Trump administration, arguing that rigorous vetting was effectively bypassed under the Biden administration, placing the country at heightened risk. The vetting process was abandoned, creating serious security concerns, she said.

Author’s Analysis: Domestic Radicalization and Security Oversight

The recent attack on National Guard members near the White House highlights critical gaps in U.S. security procedures. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect, was admitted under a program for Afghan allies of the U.S., but evidence now indicates he became radicalized after arriving in the country.

Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that individuals like Lakanwal should not have been allowed entry, suggesting failures in the vetting and monitoring process. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that radicalization likely occurred domestically, pointing to local networks and community connections as contributing factors.

This case underscores the challenges of rapid resettlement programs conducted without full access to reliable service records or biometric data. The shift in administration policies during the Afghanistan withdrawal appears to have reduced the rigor of vetting procedures, raising concerns about national security and the effectiveness of current monitoring systems.

Moving forward, authorities must reconcile the need to support allies abroad with robust domestic safeguards. Comprehensive background checks, community monitoring, and interagency cooperation will be essential to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Sources:

• Bondi, Noem: DC National Guard shooting suspect ‘radicalized’ in US