The suspect who opened fire on two National Guard soldiers just blocks from the White House is an Afghan national who worked with a CIA-backed unit in Afghanistan, according to officials.

He worked with "the US government, including CIA, as a member of a partner force in Kandahar" during the US-led war in the country, CIA director John Ratcliffe has said.

The suspect, who has been pictured for the first time, was wounded in an exchange of gunfire before he was arrested .

He was identified by the Department of Homeland Security as Rahmanullah Lakanwal.

Attorney general Pam Bondi said the US government plans to bring terrorism charges against the gunman and seek a sentence of life in prison "at a minimum".

Image: Rahmanullah Lakanwal. Pic: Reuters

"A lone gunman opened fire withou

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