US senators and House representatives were forced to evacuate when pro-Trump supporters on Wednesday violently stormed the Capitol building.
In the Capitol, both chambers of Congress, including US Vice President Mike Pence, were assembled to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
For weeks, the pro-Trump rally against Biden’s certification had been scheduled and was welcomed by President Donald Trump, who spoke earlier in the day at a demonstration.
The crisis reached alarming levels when demonstrators arrived at the steps of the Capitol building, where Congress was in session, as law enforcement refused to stop them from entering the Capitol building.
Before reaching the chamber doors of the US Senate, Trump supporters appeared to enter the building via the National Statuary Hall, a chamber in the US Capitol dedicated to sculptures of famous Americans.
Rioters were seen climbing through and smashing windows outside the Capitol.
At least a dozen people, gathering inside, were able to reach the evacuated House Chamber. The Senate floor was violated by another rioter, with security pulling their weapons to stop the individual from completely entering. Senators in gas masks were seen in the pictures covering the action.
House Representative Elaine Luria tweeted that she had been evacuated from her office after a bomb threat. “I just had to evacuate my office because of a pipe bomb reported outside. Supporters of the President are trying to force their way into the Capitol and I can hear what sounds like multiple gunshots,” Luria said.
Tear gas, which CNN confirmed had been released by rioters inside the rotunda, the huge, domed, circular room located in the center of the US Capitol, may have been the sound she heard.
Also under evacuation orders were nearby congressional office buildings as rioters clashed with law enforcement, who, according to local media, responded with tear gas.
Bobic also shared a video of many Trump supporters climbing outside the Senate onto the scaffolding, apparently hitting an area outside the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Hours later and after an explosive device was discovered at the offices of the Republican National Committee (RNC), Trump released a confusing video saying “you have to go home now” to his supporters.
“We have to have peace. We have to have law and order. We don’t want anyone hurt,” the president said, while still offering encouragement, telling his supporters: “We love you. You’re very special,” and “I know how you feel”.
The president’s video was taken down by Facebook and YouTube, with Guy Rosen, who manages Facebook’s safety and honesty work, tweeting that the video “contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence.”
Meanwhile, along with two other tweets, Twitter blocked the video and locked the president’s account for 12 hours.
“Future violations of the Twitter Rules, including our Civic Integrity or Violent Threats policies, will result in permanent suspension of the @realDonaldTrump account,” one of the company’s official accounts posted.
Source: Frank Thorp V, Igor Bobic, Middle East Eye