Trump supporters storm US Capitol, 4 dead during standoff

The US Capitol in Washington, DC, was locked down with lawmakers inside after thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump went on a rampage while seeking to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

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 rare joint session to start certifying the Electoral College results.

Four people lost their lives during the siege. While a woman succumbed to gunshot injuries to her chest, three others passed away due to medical emergencies, police said.  

 

 

Vandalism ensued as Trump supporters managed to gain entry into the Capitol building, forcing through 4 layers of security fencing. 

 

 

It took 4 hours of the US Capitol building to be secured again.

Shocking footage showed tear gas being fired in inside the Capitol building, and protesters lying on the floor.

US President Donald Trump tried in vain to reach out to his supporters through Twitter, saying: "I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!"

 

 

Trump's words didn't account for much as thousands converged inside the Capitol House complex heeding to his inflammatory posts. 

Vice President Mike Pence, who was rushed from the Senate chamber as protesters rummaged through the Capitol, said: "Peaceful protest is the right of every American but this attack on our Capitol will not be tolerated and those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

"The violence and destruction taking place at the US Capitol Must Stop and it Must Stop Now. Anyone involved must respect Law Enforcement officers and immediately leave the building," he tweeted.

 

 

President-elect Joe Biden slammed the storming of the Capitol Hill. In a press briefing, he said: "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."

Stating that the scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect a true America, Biden said: "At this hour our democracy is under unprecedented assault, unlike anything we have seen in recent times. I call on this mob to pull back and allow the work of democracy to go forward."

 

 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the storming of the U.S. Capitol was unacceptable. 

"Lawlessness and rioting -- here or around the world -- is always unacceptable. I have travelled to many countries and always support the right of every human being to protest peacefully for their beliefs and their causes."

"But violence, putting at risk the safety of others including those tasked with providing security for all of us, is intolerable both at home and abroad. Let us swiftly bring justice to the criminals who engaged in this rioting," he tweeted.

"America is better than what we saw today at a place where I served as a member of Congress and saw firsthand democracy at its best."

Twitter locks up Trump's account

In an unprecedented action, Twitter blocked President Donald Trump's account for publishing inaccurate and inflammatory tweets on a day of violence in the nation's capital.

Twitter said Trump's account would remain locked for 12 hours and the ban could be extended if his inflammatory tweets were not deleted. 

 

 

Trump's account would be permanently suspended if he continues to violate the micro-blogging site's policies against violent threats and election misinformation, the company added.