Protesters participating in a “Stop the Steal” rally in support of President Trump outside the U.S. Capitol breached a police security perimeter and stormed the U.S. Capitol building, forcing lawmakers to abandon the House floor.
Thousands of people who marched from the White House down Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Capitol Hill descended on the west side of the Capitol Wednesday afternoon. Police moved to evacuate surrounding Capitol office buildings, including the Cannon and Madison office buildings, and the Library of Congress.
At about 1:30 p.m., police told the Washington Examiner that no one was allowed out of the Capitol building. Protesters rushed barricades on the east and west sides of the building, hundreds climbed up the building’s front steps after pushing back U.S. Capitol Police.
Minutes later, more than 500 House and Senate lawmakers in the chamber were moved out of their chambers after protesters seeped into the building, somehow getting past metal detectors and security checkpoints, according to CNN. Flash bangs were heard outside the Capitol as several dozen police in yellow jackets rushed up the steps on the east side of the building.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Protesters have breached the Capitol. They’re outside the Senate chamber pic.twitter.com/I021tKliUD
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) January 6, 2021
Whoa: Trump supporters going at it with the police on the steps of the Capitol as Congress counts the Electoral College ballots inside pic.twitter.com/LiQhaa5KkQ
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) January 6, 2021
Hundreds of Trump supporters have stormed the barricades at the back of the Capitol and are marching toward the building. pic.twitter.com/68nB7QyiP9
— Rebecca Tan (@rebtanhs) January 6, 2021
BREAKING: Trump supporters have breached the Capitol building, tearing down 4 layers of security fencing and are attempting to occupy the building — fighting federal police who are overrun
This is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Thousands, police can’t stop them pic.twitter.com/VVdTUwV5YN
— ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ElijahSchaffer) January 6, 2021
US Capitol Police have evacuated two buildings on the Hill, the Madison Library of Congress Building and the Cannon House Office Building, where our crew is set up.
Here’s a look at some staffers and press waiting in a hallway in the Longworth House Office Building. pic.twitter.com/MyMlSNqEUt
— Taylor Popielarz (@TaylorPopielarz) January 6, 2021
