LAmerica was shaken by the attack that occurred just a stone’s throw from the White House on Thanksgiving night. A man opened fire in Washington this Wednesday, November 26, wounding two National Guard members before being shot and arrested. A “targeted attack”, according to the city’s mayor, came as more than 2,000 national guardsmen were deployed in the American capital by Donald Trump to “restore order”. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the US president asked him to mobilize 500 additional troops following the “animal” attack.
What has happened?
Farragut West Metro Station is 300 meters from the White House. This is one of the locations where National Guard members have been stationed and patrolling since August.
READ ALSO Donald Trump against Democratic cities: war declaredAt 2:15 p.m., a man appeared and opened fire at close range. “It appears he was a lone gunman who brandished a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard,” said Jeff Carroll, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police. “This was a targeted attack,” added Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser. Other troopers responded and were able to subdue the suspect. He was shot and hospitalized in critical condition. His identity and motive were unknown later that evening.
Who are the victims?
The two affected soldiers – a man and a woman, according to ABC – were members of the West Virginia National Guard. According to FBI Director Kash Patel, the “heroes” were in “critical” condition as of the afternoon. Initially, the governor of neighboring Washington state, Patrick Morrisey, announced their deaths before walking back his decision.
How will Donald Trump react?
The American President, who was at his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, on the Thanksgiving holiday, reacted on his Truth Social network, stating: “The animal that shot two members of the national guard (…) will pay a very heavy price. »
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that Donald Trump had asked him to deploy 500 additional National Guardsmen to Washington. On November 20, a federal judge ruled that the deployment of the National Guard in the US capital for law enforcement operations was illegal, but gave the Trump administration a 21-day order to appeal.
