Rioters breach US Capitol as Congress certifies Biden’s win

WASHINGTON D.C., Jan 6, 2021, CNN. Pro-Trump rioters have stormed the US Capitol, where members of Congress were meeting to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s win. The House floor has been evacuated, and Congress is in recess. The DC mayor has implemented a 6 p.m. ET curfew, CNN reported.

Before the riots began, Republicans in both chambers had planned to object to the count and delay the inevitable certification of Biden’s win. It is unclear when the Electoral College count will resume.

Rioters continue to face off with law enforcement at the US Capitol building after they forced their way inside earlier.

CNN’s Alex Marquardt described the scene as a “stand-off” with rioters still surrounding the edge of the building. He reported that to a “small extent,” law enforcement were pushing back the mob.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser imposed a 6 p.m. curfew, but Marquardt said, “There’s no indication right now that these protesters have any inclination of going anywhere. There’s no indication that they heard the message from the President to go home.”

CNN’s Pete Muntean described a similar scene and said that law enforcement seemed to be “outnumbered” by the mob.

CNN’s Brian Todd reported seeing smoke grenades being deployed to disperse crowds. He said some parts of the Capitol have been cleared.

Todd added that the crowd is thinning out “a little bit” but it’s by their own volition “they’re not leaving because police are pushing them out.”

Riot police have since moved in.

Smaller protests at Capitol buildings across the US have popped up, including in Salem, Oregon; Atlanta, Denver, and Topeka, where President Trump’s supporters gathered.

Video from CNN affiliate KATU showed several hundred people at demonstration in front of the Oregon Capitol, standing in the drizzle. At one point, they interrupted a series of speakers to play Trump’s Twitter message to the rioters in Washington.

“That was the President. We’re not going home here; we’re just getting started,” a rally leader said.

In Atlanta, dozens of people stood across from the Capitol, many holding flags. In Denver, hundreds of people gathered outside the Colorado Capitol.

Authorities say a pro-Trump protest inside the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka was permitted and peaceful.

“There are no known issues that I am aware of,” Lt. Terry Golightly, a spokesperson for Kansas Capitol Police, told CNN. The demonstration was permitted for an hour and had ended, he said.