How did Capitol Hill 'fall'? 2
A ceremonial session to confirm the victory for US President-elect Joe Biden inside the congressional headquarters in Washington on January 6 suddenly became chaotic and violent when supporters of President Donald
Not long after Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, warned his colleagues that their efforts to overturn the election results would send democracy into a `death spiral.`
Security staff pointed guns at one of the doors of the US House of Representatives meeting room to keep watch when protesters caused chaos outside.
A large group of pro-Trump protesters broke through barricades and rushed into the building.
Floors above the Senate meeting room, inside the press gallery, reporters tried to tiptoe and crane their necks to get a clearer view of the chaotic scene outside.
Reporters rushed to the Senate chamber while assistants shouted `In or out!`
Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar warned other lawmakers about the risk of escalation and shouted that she heard `shots being fired` somewhere.
When it was determined that the Senate chamber was not truly safe, security forces asked the lawmakers to leave.
While lawmakers and staff rushed out of the room, aides quickly grabbed the boxes containing the electoral confirmations, ensuring that saboteurs could not `steal` the election results in accordance with the law.
`If our employees hadn’t kept the boxes, they would have been burned down by the vandalism mob,` said Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley.
Through the tunnels of the parliament building, senators walked hastily accompanied by armed police escorts.
Not long after, supporters of President Trump occupied the Senate chamber, walking among the long mahogany tables, even sitting on the marble pedestal where Vice President Pence had just sat.
In another corner of the parliament building, a police officer stepped onto the podium of the House of Representatives, informing lawmakers that they may have to crouch down and hide under the rows of seats.
`We are facing a group of people who have broken into the parliament building,` the police officer said, warning House members to prepare to move out of the chamber.
`Call Trump,` Tennessee Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen shouted.
US congressman hid under his chair when protesters stormed the parliament building
Congressmen hid when protesters stormed the US Capitol building on January 6.
Arizona Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, a veteran, jumped up, stood on the armrest of a chair and began directing others, asking them to move quickly and calmly out of the chamber.
Police officers handed out gas masks to reporters inside the press box above the chamber while lawmakers retrieved their own masks from silver boxes placed under their seats.
The room was filled with panicked screams and masked chants.
A wooden chest was pushed to the main door of the meeting room.
A loud explosion sounded, everyone seemed to stop all movement for a moment.
Outside, the enthusiastic crowd `made themselves at home`.
After 2:25 p.m., the evacuation operation resumed, lawmakers and reporters crowded out of the House meeting room one after another.
Trump supporters outside the Capitol building in Washington DC on January 6.
`Is everyone okay? Are you okay?`
Senators gathered at a secure location inside another building in the Capitol complex, but reporters were asked to stay outside.
`These thugs cannot frighten us,` West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin III said.
As night fell, an announcement blared on loudspeakers across Capitol Hill telling lawmakers that the city was under curfew.
