The shooting in Washington DC

FBI chief: Shooting being investigated as a terrorist act

Wednesday's shooting in Washington, DC, is being investigated as a terrorist act, FBI Director Kash Patel said at a press conference.

The condition of the two National Guard soldiers who were shot is still critical. Both have undergone surgery, Attorney General Pam Bondi said, according to the New York Times.

A 29-year-old Afghan man, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is being identified as the suspected shooter. The motive is still unclear. He is said to have come to the United States in 2021, through a program for Afghans who have cooperated with the US government.

Afghans' application to stay in the US is stopped after the shooting

The US is stopping all Afghans from applying for residency with immediate effect. This after a man from Afghanistan was identified as the suspected shooter in the shooting near the White House last night, reports the BBC.

According to the president, every individual case in which an Afghan has previously been allowed to stay in the US will also be reviewed, writes CNN.

- We will take all necessary steps to remove foreigners from countries that do not belong here, or contribute to our country. If they cannot love our country, we do not want them, says Donald Trump.

Analysis: The shooting an opportunity for Trump – who acted immediately

The shooting in Washington DC is a political opportunity for Donald Trump, who directly exploited the incident to his advantage, writes The Guardian's David Smith in an analysis:

"Immigration? Check. Law and order? Check. Is it all Joe Biden's fault? Check."

He believes that the White House's hope is that the shooting can distract Republican voters from rising prices and the scandal surrounding the Epstein investigation.

The decision to deploy the National Guard in Washington has been met with widespread criticism, but yesterday's shooting was a unique opportunity for the Trump administration to expand the controversial measure by 500 soldiers.

CNN's Stephen Collinson believes that the president's actions after the shooting can be explained by his desire to "steer the debate that is sure to arise."

"Trump's extremely political statements may have been intended to silence any criticism that the National Guard soldiers patrolling Washington DC are in a vulnerable position due to their unclear mission," he writes. 

Washington DC shooting — the case in point

• Two US National Guard soldiers were shot near the White House in Washington DC on Wednesday evening.
• The shooting was described by the FBI and police as a targeted attack on the soldiers who were patrolling the area.
• The suspected perpetrator, a 29-year-old man from Afghanistan, was arrested and is being treated for injuries after being shot.
• The motive for the attack is still unknown, but both the soldiers and the perpetrator are being treated for serious injuries in hospital.
• President Donald Trump called the incident a terrorist attack and announced that the US would immediately suspend Afghan residency permits.