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Video Producer: Shohini Bose
Video Editor: Vivek Gupta
Pro-Trump protesters stormed the United States (US) Capitol in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, 6 January, in scenes that were broadcast live on multiple news channels across the world.
Members of both Houses of the US Congress were meeting to conduct the vote certifying the Electoral College victory of Joe Biden in the US presidential election. Both Houses had to be evacuated, before the Senate reconvened later.
Several hours after the crisis began, the Capitol Police finally managed to clear the mob from the building after 5:30 pm (EST), with the Capitol’s Sergeant-at-Arms confirming the building was secure, according to CNN.
The incident led to the death of four people, including one woman succumbing to a gunshot wound. Several reports suggested people being hospitaised with tear gas injuries, baton marks and multiple fractures.
The event has also triggered a slew of resignations from the White House.
Shocking visuals emerged from the Capitol.
According to CNN, Vice President Mike Pence was evacuated from the Capitol. Pence’s role, during the certification process, was to count the electoral votes.
Visuals showed Trump supporters marching through the halls and corridors of the Capitol, including the Statuary Hall. Images of them seated in the Speaker’s chair inside the US Senate chamber also surfaced.
Citing a source familiar with the situation, CNN reported that the US Capitol Police asked for additional law enforcement for assistance, including federal authorities.
BBC further reported that the police had to draw guns in the Capitol, including the chamber of the House of Representatives, to protect lawmakers. Lawmakers were moved to undisclosed locations for their protection, as protesters attempted to get into not just the chambers but offices as well.
According to reports, Congressional leaders were evacuated from the Capitol complex and were taken to Fort McNair, a nearby army base.
There was an increased attempt by the US law enforcement to retake the Capitol from protesters as well. Around 5 pm (EST), the police dressed in complete riot gear slowly began to clear rioters from the Capitol.
According to reports, flash-bangs were witnessed, including smoke, allegedly a chemical irritant, emanating from the entrance of the building.
There was a growing demand for Trump to address the mob in order to curb the violence prior to his statement, while he, in his statement, once again baselessly alleged election fraud.
Urging Trump to make a statement, President-elect Joe Biden called the events “an insurrection, not a protest” and asked Trump to "step up", adding his words had amounted to incitement.
Following calls for him to put out a statement and tell the protesters to leave, Trump belatedly released a taped statement in which he continued to allege fraud and say that the election had been “stolen” from him but also asked the protesters to “go home in peace”. However, he also said that he “loves” the protesters.
The statement was consequently taken down by Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Twitter also locked Trump's account for 12 hours.
The removal comes amid calls by the Anti-Defamation League and the NAACP for Trump’s social media accounts to be suspended outright.
In an initial tweet, Trump failed to address the situation and said:
With protesters showing no sign of dissipating, claiming their goal was to occupy the Capitol through the night, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew starting at 6 pm to 6 am (EST).
After the Capitol was secured, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that leaders of Congress had decided to resume the joint session on Wednesday night to certify President-elect Joe Biden's win.
In the last few hours, Senators from both sides of the aisle exited their secure location and returned to the Capitol building to reconvene.
According to CNN, the House resumed its debate on the objection to Arizona's electoral votes for Biden. Republicans were debating the objection before rioters stormed the US Capitol and prompted the proceedings to halt.
Vice President Mike Pence also returned to the Senate.
"Now 6 January will go down as one of the darkest days of recent American history, a final warning to our nation about the consequences of a demagogic president," Schumer said.
When the Congress met again after the House Chamber was cleaned up following the attacks, objections to three states failed as none of the Senators would sign on.
The US Congress then voted to reject Republican lawmakers' objection to Biden's victory over sitting President Donald Trump in the state of Arizona.
The objection was overturned by the Senate in an overwhelming vote of 93 to 6 late Wednesday night.
The reconvened joint session adjourned early Thursday when objections were raised by a Senator and a House of Representatives member to the ballots from Pennsylvania.
Without extended discussions, the Senate quickly disposed of the objection with 92 votes against and only seven in favour.
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