By AWC International Security Desk – Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. was thrown into turmoil last Tuesday after U.S. federal authorities announced an immediate suspension of Afghan visa processing, following the arrest of an Afghan national who opened fire near the White House in what officials are describing as a “targeted security incident with possible extremist motivation.”
The dramatic episode unfolded just after 8:15 p.m. along Pennsylvania Avenue NW, metres from the White House security perimeter, sending tourists running for cover and forcing the Secret Service into full lockdown mode.
How the Shooting Happened
According to preliminary briefings from the Secret Service and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD):
The shooter, identified only as a 28-year-old Afghan male, approached a security barricade on foot.
He initially blended in with a small crowd near Lafayette Square before suddenly pulling out a semi-automatic handgun.
The suspect fired at least seven rounds, striking two pedestrians and grazing a Secret Service uniformed officer.
Secret Service agents responded in under 20 seconds, returning fire and tackling the assailant to the ground.
No shots penetrated White House grounds.
The victims include:
One male tourist, age 34 — fatally wounded
A female passerby, age 29 — critically injured
One Secret Service officer — minor injuries
EMS teams transported the wounded to George Washington University Hospital.
Authorities say the assailant had no explosives, and his weapon was recovered at the scene.
U.S. Government Reacts: Afghan Visa Processing Frozen
Within hours of the attack, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Department jointly confirmed that:
All Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), refugee applications, and humanitarian parole cases have been suspended “pending security review.”
A senior U.S. official, speaking on background, said the ban was enacted as a “temporary emergency measure” following intelligence that suggested the suspect had recently entered the United States on a temporary visa with falsified documentation.
The White House has not yet commented on whether the ban will extend to broader regional visa categories.
Motive Under Investigation
While the shooter is now in custody, federal investigators from:
FBI Counterterrorism Division
Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF)
U.S. Secret Service Protective Intelligence
are examining:
His travel history
Digital communications
Possible extremist affiliations
Any connection to overseas radical groups
Officials stress that no definitive link has yet been established, but they are pursuing “all lines of inquiry.”
Security Measures Tightened Around White House
In the aftermath of the shooting:
Pennsylvania Avenue and Lafayette Square were sealed off for nearly four hours.
Security screening around the Executive Mansion has been elevated to Condition Red.
Uniformed Secret Service patrols have doubled along the northern perimeter.
Washington Metro Police have deployed additional tactical units to high-traffic federal areas.
The Secret Service confirmed that the President was not at risk during the incident.
Statements from U.S. Officials
Acting DHS Secretary Maria Del Rosario said:
“The attempted attack near the White House represents an unacceptable breach. We will reassess all immigration risks connected to conflict regions, starting with Afghanistan.”
Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman, Sen. James Halstead, called the event “a warning about gaps in vetting procedures,” urging a full intelligence overhaul.
International Reaction: Afghan Authorities Deny Links
Afghanistan’s interim government in Kabul issued a rapid statement condemning the attack and insisting that:
“The individual is not affiliated with the Afghan state and does not represent our people.”
Human rights organizations have expressed concern that a blanket visa suspension could punish innocent Afghan civilians seeking asylum from Taliban rule.
Implications: A Brewing Diplomatic and Humanitarian Fallout
Analysts warn that the U.S. freeze on Afghan visas could have wide-ranging implications:
1. Thousands of Afghans awaiting SIV evacuation may be stranded.
2. Humanitarian parole applicants could face indefinite delays.
3. U.S.–Afghan diplomatic relations may deteriorate further.
4. Global rights groups may challenge the ban as discriminatory.
Developing Story
As investigations continue, Washington remains on high alert. Officials say more details will be released once federal agencies complete “immediate threat-analysis procedures.”
AWC will continue to monitor developments and bring verified updates as this story unfolds.
