Security News > 2021 > January > United States Congress stormed by violent followers of defeated president, Biden win confirmation halted

Supporters of defeated American president Donald Trump this morning stormed the capital's legislative halls, shutting down the process to confirm his replacement.

Within minutes of the president speaking at a rally on the nearby Mall in Washington DC, in which he urged his followers to march to the Capitol and put a stop to Joe Biden being officially approved as the next national leader by lawmakers, fights broke out on the steps of the building as thousands attempted to force their way past the relatively few cops present and break into the building.

In a lengthy screed in which the president argued that his untrue allegations of widespread fraud were "So crazy no one will believe them," he twice exhorted his supporters to derail the process taking place behind him in which his rival was being formally certified as the next president ahead of his inauguration on January 20.

The president was aided by a number of Republican lawmakers who reiterated bogus claims of fraudulent results and used the vote certification process to make speeches from the floor of Congress.

BREAKING: The U.S. Capitol is on lockdown after pro-Trump protestors breached the building as Congress began to certify Electoral College votes for Biden.

Under pressure from senior lawmakers, who called the storming of the Capitol "Un-American" and demanded that the president tell his followers to stand down, Trump tweeted: "I am asking for everyone at the US 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!".

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/01/06/us_congress_trump_stormed/