National Guard deployed after Trump supporters storm U.S. Capitol pic.twitter.com/UOlFVWwnKZ
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 7, 2021
US President Donald Trump’s followers smashed the Capitol Building in Washington DC on Wednesday. The Capitol building is home to the US Congress and is the seat of the political branch of the US government.
The incident shocked the people around the globe. Around 4.15 a.m. (Indian Standard Time), US officials said they had effectively secured the Capitol building after a four-hour clash with pro-Trump rioters. The Capitol Police is now in the process of dispersing Trump supporters from the site, officials added.
Despite the appearance of police in full riot gear, scores of Trump backers have been seen breaking the curfew ordered by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser.
The US National Guard has been pressed into the situation to help the Capitol Police retake custody of the Capitol Complex, the Pentagon said adding that 1,100 National Guard troops were mobilising to recover the seat of the US government.
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, meanwhile, declared a curfew on Wednesday at 6 pm (Eastern Standard Time). Mayor Bowser went on to state that Trump’s conduct is “shameful, unpatriotic and above all is unlawful”
A female Trump supporter died in an area hospital after being shot in the chest on Capital grounds. Washington DC Chief of Police Robert Contee told the public.
An explosive device was also found outside the US Capitol in the aftermath of the violent takeover of the house, according to the Associated Press report. Officials said that the unit was no longer a threat.
Capitol Police witnessed the use of tear gas to scatter Trump’s followers in U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Images of social media rounds have included an armed standoff between Trump and the world.
VP Mike Pence called for the U.S. Capitol to “stop now” the violence. Similarly, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi released a joint statement asking President Trump to order his followers to exit the Capitol Building.
“At this hour, our democracy is under unprecedented assault. Unlike anything we have seen in modern times. An assault on the citadel of liberty, the Capitol itself. The scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect the true America. Do not represent who we are. What we are seeing is a small number of extremists dedicated to lawlessness. This is not dissent, it’s disorder,” said President-elect Joe Biden
