Four killed as Trump supporters storm Washington’s Capitol building
08 Jan 2021
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Four people, including a women, died in the violence that took place at Washington’s Capitol building on Wednesday, as armed rioters claiming to be supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the building, in an attempt to halt the ceremonial counting of electoral votes.
While one woman was shot dead three others died of “medical emergencies”, the Metropolitan Police Department said confirming the deaths. Fourteen police officers too have been reported injured in the violence.
Media reports said at least 52 rioters have been arrested on the US Capitol grounds where protestors set up pitched battle with security personnel. Police were mostly outnumbered even as armed confrontation took place, reports added.
The DC Police Department said they are looking out for five people in a vehicle as part of the investigation into the shooting.
The security forces inside the Capitol used tear gas in a four-hour operation to control the rioters. The House as well as the Senate were placed on a lockdown for safety purposes. Soon after the forces took control of the building, the lawmakers resumed the counting process
The Trump supporters were said to be trying to storm the lawmakers meeting that is set to certify Joe Biden's recent victory over Trump.
Visuals of vandalism and rioting, scaling of walls and smashing of window panes have surfaced in the media and social media late on Wednesday night.
A CNN reports said shortly after 1 pm (ET) on Wednesday hundreds of pro-Trump protesters pushed through barriers set up along the perimeter of the Capitol, where they tussled with officers in full riot gear, some calling the officers "traitors" for doing their jobs. About 90 minutes later, police said demonstrators got into the building and the doors to the House and Senate were being locked. Police then evacuated the House floor. Vice President Mike Pence was also evacuated from the chamber, where he was to perform his role in the counting of electoral votes.
An armed standoff took place at the House front door at about 3 pm (ET), and police officers had their guns drawn at someone who was trying to breach it. A Trump supporter was also pictured standing at the Senate dais earlier in the afternoon.
A woman, who is yet to be identified, died after being shot in the chest on the Capitol grounds, the CNN report cited DC police as saying.
It took until roughly 5:40 pm (ET), just 20 minutes before Washington's 6 pm (ET) curfew, for the building to once again be secured, according to the sergeant-at-arms.
Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington DC on Thursday extended the public emergency for a total of 15 days. The Mayor said "His (Trump) constant and divisive rhetoric led to the upward actions we saw today"
The Mayor has announced a curfew order in the city from 6 pm to 6 am.
Bowser lashed out at President Trump for inciting the violence while stating that he must be held accountable for the same. She called the incidents of violence as "unprecedented attack on American democracy".
Meanwhile, CNN, citing an RNC official, also reported that a pipe bomb was found at the Republican National Committee's headquarters. The device was found on the ground outside, along the wall of the headquarters. It was safely detonated by the police, the report added.
At least two suspected pipe bombs were rendered safe by law enforcement -- the one at the building that houses RNC offices and one in the US Capitol complex, CLL cited a federal law enforcement official as saying.
But, after the last desperate stand-off, President Trump conceded defeat in last year’s presidential election, and issued a statement that there will be an orderly transition of power on 20 January.
The statement came soon after a joint session of the US Congress certified Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the US Presidential Election held in November last year. Biden is set to take over as US president on 20 January.
“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th. I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted...," Trump said.
