Four dead after Trump supporters storm US Capitol to prevent electoral vote

Blood was shed in the heart of US democracy as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol during the vote to confirm Joe Biden’s win.

The heart of democracy in the United States faced down an unprecedented and deadly attack on Wednesday in anarchic scenes that left four dead, as Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol to prevent Joe Biden’s certification as President.

After Mr Biden’s win was confirmed, Mr Trump released a statement saying that “there will be an orderly transition” on January 20, but this extraordinary moment will go down in history as dark day for the US, and bodes ill for future unity in a deeply divided country.

Galvanised by Mr Trump’s demand that Congress overturn his rival’s election win, Trump supporters broke into the Capitol Building to stop the electoral vote count, overwhelming police and forcing their way inside.

Police officers stand guard as supporters of US President Donald Trump launch an attack on the Capitol on January 6. Picture: REUTERS/Leah Millis

The President was accused of leading a coup after refusing to accept the election result and inciting his supporters to take unprecedented action. Picture: Olivier Douliery / AFP

Four people died as demonstrators tried to stop the certification of Joe Biden's presidential election win. Picture: Joseph Prezioso / AFP

Four people died in the violent and anarchic scenes that unfolded, with one woman shot and killed by police and two men and a woman dying on the Capitol grounds due to so far unspecified “medical emergencies” as police tried to evacuate the area.

A disturbing video of the shooting started circulating online almost immediately, and the victim was later identified as Ashli Babbitt, a Californian pro-Trump rioter who lived in San Diego.

Ms Babbitt’s social media accounts were filled with her political views, and she vowed to fight for Trump’s presidency in her final Twitter post.

“Nothing will stop us … they can try and try and try but the storm is here and it is descending upon DC in less than 24 hours … dark to light!” she posted on January 6.

Many condemned her as a “terrorist”, while Trump fans praised her as a hero.

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Onlookers were horrified by the apparently sanguine reaction of the President, who failed to condemn the violence and order people home, initially simply asking the rioters to “remain peaceful” as costumed supporters waved Confederate flags, took selfies and breached the chamber. The police response appeared shockingly weak, particularly when compared with the brutal crackdown on Black Lives Matters protesters last year, when the National Guard guard formed ranks to protect the Capitol.

New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, citing a source “with knowledge of the events”, said President Trump “initially rebuffed and resisted” requests to send the National Guard to quell Wednesday’s riots.

According to The Times, Vice President Mike Pence was the one who eventually gave the order to deploy the National Guard, not the President.

Rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol Building to stop the electoral count vote in scenes never seen before in the United States. Picture: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images/AFP

Congress staffers were evacuated as Swat teams secured the building. Picture: Olivier Douliery / AFP)

Capitol police officers draw their guns as rioters breached the House Chamber during the joint session of Congress. Picture: Drew Angerer/Getty Images/AFP

Onlookers were horrified at the seeming ease with which Trump supporters broke into the US Capitol as the 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification took place. Picture: Roberto Schmidt / AFP

A Trump supporter breaks into the office of US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi during the chaos. Picture: SAUL LOEB / AFP

At 6pm, a mandatory curfew was called and the joint session of Congress reconvened at 8pm.

“Today was a dark day in the history of the Capitol, but thanks to the swift efforts of law enforcement, the violence was quelled. The Capitol is secured, and the people’s work continues,” Mr Pence said.

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“We condemn the violence that took place here in the strongest possible terms. We grieve the loss of life in these hallowed halls.

“To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today – you did not win. Violence never wins. Freedom wins. And this is still the People’s House.

After a long night, Mr Biden was eventually confirmed as the winner of the presidential election early on Friday morning.

“The votes for president of the United States are as follows: Joseph R. Biden Jr of the state of Delaware has received 306 votes. Donald J Trump of the state of Florida has received 232 votes,” Mr Pence declared.

After all the bluster of the past two months, more than 60 lawsuits, and an assault on the Capitol itself, Mr Trump did not manage to budge a single electoral vote.

A Trump supporter affected by tear gas released by police as demonstrators laid siege to the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Picture: Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP

A member of a pro-Trump mob bashes an entrance of the Capitol Building in an attempt to gain access on January 6. Picture: Jon Cherry/Getty Images/AFP

The mob broke windows and damaged property in the hope of stopping the Electoral College votes of several states from being approved. Picture: Jon Cherry/Getty Images/AFP

The riot was eventually subdued and Congress reconvened at 8pm local time. Picture: Olivier DOULIERY / AFP

US President-elect Joe Biden was eventually certified as the next US President in the early hours of Thursday morning local time. Picture: Jim Watson/ AFP

US President Donald Trump said in a statement released after the result that the transition would be ‘orderly’. Picture: Brendan Smialowski / AFP

Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Picture: Olivier Douliery / AFP)

Relations are believed to be strained between Mr Trump and Mr Pence, after the Vice President refused to unilaterally overturn the election results during the joint session of Congress — something he had no authority to do anyway.

Reporters for NBC News, The Daily Caller and RealClearNews said Mr Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short, has been banned from entering the grounds of the White House in retaliation.

In the aftermath of the protests, White House deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews became the latest administration staff member to quit. Earlier, Melania Trump’s chief of staff, Stephanie Grisham, resigned effective immediately over the day’s events, and White House social secretary Anna Cristina “Rickie” Niceta also resigned effective immediately, a White House official told CNN.

Concerns remain over further violence during the transition period, but Mr Trump said in a statement that the transition would be orderly — releasing the statement through aide Dan Scavino as he cannot currently use his own Twitter account.

“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th,” Mr Trump said.

“I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!”

Police Chief Robert Contee said at least 52 arrests had been made as of 9.30pm, 26 of them on the grounds of the Capitol.

Forty-seven of the arrests related to curfew violations or unlawful entry; four were for carrying guns without licences; and one was for possession of a prohibited weapon.

Chief Contee confirmed police had found and destroyed two pipe bombs, one at the Republican National Committee headquarters and the other at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.

They also found a cooler containing long guns and molotov cocktails on the Capitol grounds.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the scenes in Washington DC “distressing”, and said he looks forward to a “peaceful” transfer of power to the Biden administration.