NPR News

PHOTOS: Mayhem Erupts In D.C. As Pro-Trump Extremists Storm U.S. Capitol

By Emily Bogle,

Claire Harbage, Reese Oxner

Published January 6, 2021 at 7:32 PM EST

Police stand behind their shields outside the Capitol after a day of rioting on Wednesday.

Updated at 6:47 a.m. ET

Pro-Trump extremists stormed Capitol Hill on Wednesday, halting the Electoral College certification and sending the U.S. Capitol into lockdown.

Chaos erupted. A woman was shot and killed. Violent mobs smashed windows and occupied the Capitol building. Police had their guns drawn inside the Capitol as they attempted to control the situation.

The assault comes after two months of President Trump and other Republican leaders baselessly saying the election was stolen from him.

Even while calling for peace in a video on Twitter, Trump repeated his claim that the election was fraudulent. "We love you. You're very special," he said, as he told his supporters in D.C. to go home.

Early Thursday morning, congress certified President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' victory after the Capitol was cleared of pro-Trump extremists.

See scenes from the assault below.

People yell as a police line tries to clear those violating curfew outside a JW Marriott in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night.

A Congress staffer holds his hands up while Capitol Police Swat team check everyone in the room as they secure the floor of Trump supporters who mobbed the Capitol building.

Pro-Trump extremists clash with police and security forces as they storm the U.S. Capitol.

Pro-Trump extremists storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Trump on Wednesday.

Left: Protesters gather on the door of the U.S. Capitol Building. Right: A protester wears a gas mask after storming the U.S. Capitol. — Left: Rioters gather at the door of the U.S. Capitol building. Right: A member of the mob wears a gas mask after storming the U.S. Capitol.

Extremists breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. — Extremists breached security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the 2020 electoral vote tally.

Left: U.S. Capitol Police draw their guns as protesters attempt to enter the House Chamber. Right: Members of congress run for cover as protesters try to enter the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. — Left: U.S. Capitol Police draw their guns as rioters attempt to enter the House chamber. Right: Members of Congress run for cover as people try to force their way into the House chamber.

A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber. — An extremist hangs from the balcony in the Senate chamber.

Protesters in the U.S. Capitol Building. — A rioter carries off a lectern inside the U.S. Capitol.

Richard Barnett, a supporter of President Trump sits inside Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's office as he protests inside the Capitol. A mob breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification.

Rioters climb the west wall of the the U.S. Capitol.

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they invade the Inauguration platform. — Pro-Trump extremists clash with police and security forces as they invade the inauguration platform.

U.S. Capitol Police detain extremists outside the House chamber.

Left: A person on a stretcher is placed in an ambulance outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Right: Authorities remove protesters from the U.S. Capitol. — Left: A person on a stretcher is loaded into an ambulance outside the Capitol on Wednesday. Right: Authorities remove people from the Capitol.