Chaos on Capitol Hill: Trump supporters storm US Capitol, interrupting Congress’ certification of Biden’s victory

US Capitol Building

The U.S. Capitol building under siege on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol as Congress met to certify Joe Biden's election win, triggering unprecedented chaos and violence at the heart of American democracy.

Thousands of Pres. Donald Trump's followers surrounded the building and burst in, the result, a remarkable scene of lawmakers fleeing and the police seemingly overwhelmed.

A protester in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office.

Social media are filled with pictures of Trump's followers and offices in the chambers running free in what is supposed to be one of the most protected buildings in the country.

It started as US President Donald Trump called his supporters to protest what he claimed was a stolen election.    
"We're going to walk down to the Capitol and we're going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women," Trump said.

Chaos followed.  Hours after an extraordinary rally by Trump seeking to overturn the election, a flag-waving mob broke down barricades outside the Capitol and swarmed inside, rampaging through offices and onto the usually solemn legislative floors.

They pushed through barricades, smashing windows to enter the building.  
Armored police vehicles arrived at the scene to disperse the demonstrators.  Police fired tear gas and flashbangs to disperse the crowd,  they tried to push them back from the front of the Capitol.
Others protesters moved to the back quickly pushing through a line of police.  
Some Trump supporters entered the Senate floor to protest against the election results.
Inside the building, an armed stand-off broke out in the House chamber.  Officers drew their guns on a protester trying to reach the front door.

A woman who was shot inside the Capitol later died.  Several others were injured.  House members were given gas masks and evacuated to an undisclosed location.  Vice-President Mike Pence was also evacuated from the building. The White House said President Trump had ordered the National Guard to quell the violence. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a curfew starting at 6pm until 6am the next day.


The incoming President responded, 

"This is not dissent, it's disorder, it's chaos, it borders on sedition and it must end now.  I call on this mob to pull back and allow the work of democracy to go forward." 

said Joe Biden.

He demanded the President tell his supporters to go home and Trump did.  Trump told supporters 'to go home' but repeated baseless claims of voter fraud.

"I know your pain, I know your hurt.  We had an elction that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side, but you have to go home now.  We have to have peace.  We have to have law and order.  We have to respect our great people in law and order. We don't want anybody hurt.  It's a very tough period of time.  This was a fraudulent election, but we can't play into the hands of these people.  We have to have peace. So go home.  We love you, you're very special. You've seen what happened.  You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil.  I know how you feel, but go home and go home in peace." 

said Trump.

After protesters were cleared from the building, lawmakers returned to the Capitol.  They resumed debate through the night to confirm results of the recent presidential poll.