In an unprecedented assault on democracy in America, thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol and clashed with police, resulting in at least four deaths and interrupting a constitutional process to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the election.
The police, outnumbered by the maskless protesters, had a tough time in managing the mob, as hundreds of protesters breached security and entered the Capitol building on Wednesday, where members of the Congress were going through the process of counting and certifying the Electoral College votes.
Both the House and Senate and the entire Capitol were placed under a lockdown.
Vice President Mike Pence and lawmakers were evacuated to safe locations.
Four people died on Wednesday, including one woman who was shot by a police officer, amid protests and rioting on Capitol Hill that resulted in dozens of demonstrators being arrested, police said.
Hong Kong residents from across the political spectrum condemned mob violence at the U.S. Capitol, 18 months after protesters stormed their own legislature to demand greater democracy, not the overthrow of election results.
Cinema and music personalities, including Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Cardi B, Richa Chadha, and Vir Das, have condemned the attack on the Capitol Hill in the US by thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump who clashed with police, calling it an act of "terror" and assault on democracy.
US President Donald Trump says there will be an "orderly" transfer of power to Joe Biden on January 20.
US lawmakers on Thursday rejected a second Republican-led objection to certifying electoral votes for Joe Biden, hours after a riot by Donald Trump supporters forced a delay in the process, AFP reported. The Senate voted 92 to 7 against the effort to discount Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes and the House followed suit, albeit with more than 130 Republicans supporting the decertification bid. With 38 states now certified, Congress moved to continue its late night process to affirm the electoral votes of all 50 states and formalize Biden's victory.
Pelosi's aides said the mob shattered a big mirror in the office of the 80-year-old top Democrat and took the nameplate from above the door of her office in the highly-secure building. One image captured a Trump supporter sitting with his feet up on the desk of Pelosi, a fierce critic of President Donald Trump, a Republican.
Joint session of US Congress certifies victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in Nov 3 election.
The scenes of bedlam and fear at the center of national government erupted quickly, but journalists wondered whether they should have been a surprise. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
The incident forced lawmakers to crouch under desks and don gas marks, while police futilely tried to barricade the building. A woman was shot and killed inside the Capitol, and Washington's mayor instituted an evening curfew in an attempt to contain the violence. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
In an editorial titled 'Trump is to blame for Capitol attack', The New York Times said, "President Trump and his Republican enablers in Congress incited a violent attack Wednesday against the government they lead and the nation they profess to love. This cannot be allowed to stand." (READ FULL STORY HERE)
FBI says it "is seeking information that will assist in identifying individuals who are actively instigating violence in Washington DC," reports NBC News.
The riot in the Capitol prompted more than half of those who had signed on to the protest to instead vote "no. Catering to Trump's supporters seemed less important than defending democracy." (READ FULL STORY HERE)
According to Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, the acts of "domestic terrorism" at the Capitol makes it clear that Trump is a "grave threat to our democracy who must immediately be removed from office". (READ FULL STORY HERE)
Police say 52 have been arrested, following the violence at the US Capitol, reports Reuters.
"We condemn the violence that took place here in the strongest possible terms. We grieve the loss of life in these hallowed halls, as well as the injuries suffered by those who defended our Capitol today. And we will always be grateful to the men and women who stayed at their posts to defend this historic place," Pence said in his remarks as he presided over the resumption of the Joint Session of the Congress, which was disrupted after the violence. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
The statement of the former popular president came hours after thousands of pro-Trump rioters on Wednesday stormed the US Capitol, interrupting a joint session of Congress where lawmakers were set to certify President-elect Joe Biden's win. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
A violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday and forced lawmakers into hiding, in a stunning attempt to overturn America’s presidential election, undercut the nation’s democracy and keep Democrat Joe Biden from replacing Trump in the White House. (VIEW THE GALLERY HERE)
Biden had planned to deliver a speech focused on how to revive the economy and provide financial relief for small-business owners reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, giving routine political remarks from a theater in his native Delaware. But shortly before he was to begin speaking, demonstrators broke into the Capitol building, reaching as far as the Senate floor. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
Mary Miller of Illinois, elected in November to replace Republican John Shimkus, spoke during an event by conservative group "Moms for America," one of several demonstrations by Trump supporters. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
Here’s my statement on today’s violence at the Capitol. pic.twitter.com/jLCKo2D1Ya
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 7, 2021
I have issued order extending the public emergency declared earlier today for a total of 15 days: Mayor of #WashingtonDC, Muriel Bowser pic.twitter.com/cozs5wSGz4
— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2021
Police have arrested 30 people for violating a curfew imposed in Washington, D.C., after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, says AP.
Members of far-right groups, including the violent Proud Boys, joined the crowds that formed in Washington to cheer on President Donald Trump as he urged them to protest Congress' counting of Electoral College votes confirming President-elect Joe Biden's win. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
The scene that unfolded, pushing through police barricades, breaking windows, then occupying seats of power, was one that Americans are accustomed to watching in distant lands with authoritarian regimes. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
In 1814, just 14 years after the building opened, British forces in the War of 1812 tried to burn it down. The invaders looted the building first, and then set the southern and northern wings ablaze, incinerating the Library of Congress. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
Key allies were appalled at what they described as an attack on American democracy, though some said they believed U.S. democratic institutions would withstand the turmoil. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
Condemning the violent situation that unfolded at the US Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests and called for an orderly and peaceful transfer of power. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
