Capitol storm: 4 hours of chaos and arson on the Hill

US President Donald Trump's supporters tore through police barricades at the steps of the  Capitol building even as the House of Representatives and Senate were in a joint session to start certifying the Electoral College results. Trump supporters indulged in arson after forcing their way into the Capitol building through 4 layers of security fencing. Here are some glimpses of the mayhem.

A protester supporting U.S President Donald Trump jumps from the public gallery to the floor of the Senate chamber at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

A protester supporting U.S President Donald Trump jumps from the public gallery to the floor of the Senate chamber at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

A pro-Trump protester carries the lectern of U.S Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi through the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building after a pro-Trump mob stormed the building on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

A pro-Trump protester carries the lectern of U.S Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi through the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building after a pro-Trump mob stormed the building on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

U.S Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

U.S Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

A pro-Trump mob breaks into the U.S. Capitol on January 06, 2021, in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

A pro-Trump mob breaks into the U.S. Capitol on January 06, 2021, in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Pro-Trump protesters entered the U.S. Capitol building during demonstrations in the nation's capital. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Pro-Trump protesters entered the U.S. Capitol building during demonstrations in the nation's capital. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

A pro-Trump mob confronts U.S. Capitol police outside the Senate chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

A pro-Trump mob confronts U.S. Capitol police outside the Senate chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Gas is deployed as protesters gather on the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Gas is deployed as protesters gather on the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Protesters supporting U.S. President Donald Trump storm the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC, even as Congress held a joint session to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Protesters supporting U.S. President Donald Trump storm the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC, even as Congress held a joint session to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Protesters interact with Capitol Police inside the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. A group of Republican senators said they would reject the Electoral College votes of several states unless Congress appointed a commission to audit the election results. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Protesters interact with Capitol Police inside the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. A group of Republican senators said they would reject the Electoral College votes of several states unless Congress appointed a commission to audit the election results. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

A member of a pro-Trump mob bashes an entrance of the Capitol Building in an attempt to gain access on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Photograph: Jon Cherry/Getty Images

A member of a pro-Trump mob bashes an entrance of the Capitol Building in an attempt to gain access on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Photograph: Jon Cherry/Getty Images

Police officers in riot gear confront protesters who gathered at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Police officers in riot gear confront protesters who gathered at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

A police officer cuts down pro-Trump flags after supporters of President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol following a rally on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

A police officer cuts down pro-Trump flags after supporters of President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol following a rally on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Samuel Corum/Getty Images