A senior intelligence official has claimed that Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national accused of gunning down two National Guard service members in Washington, was 'not vetted' before being allowed into the United States. Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, said the Biden administration's handling of the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan led to dangerous lapses in screening.
Kent's remarks came after Lakanwal, 29, was identified as the suspect in the shooting near the White House. The attack left Guardswoman Sarah Beckstrom dead and another soldier injured. Surveillance footage showed the suspect allegedly lying in wait before opening fire near Farragut West Metro Station.
