Two US National Guard troops were shot near the White House on Wednesday afternoon, sparking a major security response in the normally tranquil Farragut Square area of Washington DC. The suspect has been identified as an Afghan man, authorities said.
The shooting outside Farragut North metro station drew squads of guard troops, police officers and heavily armed Secret Service personnel, who cordoned off neighbouring streets. Office workers were barred from exiting into the square and told to use rear entrances.
Local residents expressed shock and dismay. Gary Goodweather, a Democratic candidate for next year’s mayoral election and a former US army captain who served in the National Guard, said the deployment of federal forces was an invitation to violence. “The National Guard should not have been in our city – period – for law enforcement,” he said. He added that he feared the administration would respond by increasing troop numbers, which would further inflame tensions.
Jesse Lovell, a self-employed editor, said many residents were angry about what he called “the occupation” of the capital by federal troops. Resentment was aimed not at the National Guard but at other federal agents involved in arrests, he said. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has since ordered 500 additional National Guard troops to the city at President Trump’s request.
FBI Director Kash Patel addressed journalists across the street from the scene, describing the wounded troops as “heroes” and vowing to run down every lead. “This is the power of the US government at its best,” he said.
