Taliban Blackmail Suspected in DC National Guard Terror Attack Investigation

Investigation into Rahmanullah Lakanwal

• 🎯 A new lead suggests Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the alleged terrorist who attacked National Guard members, may have been blackmailed by the Taliban.
• ⚠️ The Taliban allegedly threatened to murder his family in Afghanistan if he did not attack National Guard troops.
• 🔍 Investigators are pursuing this potential blackmail as one of several lines of inquiry.

The Attack and Its Aftermath

• 💥 On November 26, Lakanwal allegedly ambushed two National Guard members, Sarah Beckmrom and Andrew Wolf, with a .357 Magnum revolver.
• 💔 Beckmrom was killed, and Wolf was critically injured in the broad daylight attack near Farragut Square Park.
• 🛡️ A third unarmed National Guardsman and a fourth Guardsman with a pistol intervened, with the latter shooting Lakanwal.

Lakanwal's Background and Vetting

• 🇺🇸 Lakanwal and his family were admitted to the US in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, following his service in a CIA-backed counterterrorism unit.
• 🏠 They settled in Bellingham, Washington, receiving a $2,000 per month apartment.
• ❓ A senior US official stated Lakanwal was vetted by the CIA and National Counterterrorism Center in 2021 and was considered "clean."
• 🗣️ However, Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, stated Lakanwal was vetted for combat in Afghanistan, not for suitability to live in the US.

Legal Proceedings and Security Reviews

• ⚖️ Lakanwal has been charged with first-degree murder while armed, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
• 🚨 The Department of Homeland Security announced a halt to processing immigration requests for Afghan nationals pending a security protocol review.
• 🧐 President Trump has called for a review of green card holders from 19 countries of concern.