4 dead, explosive devices seized: All you need to know about US Capitol chaos
The police in Washington, DC said that four people died on the US Capitol grounds on Wednesday and 52 have been arrested after supporters of US President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol and disrupted electoral count. Lawmakers were briefly evacuated from the US Capitol after protesters breached security and entered the premises.
The mayor of Washington, DC, Muriel Bowser, ordered a curfew in the nation’s capital beginning at 6pm Wednesday. Later in the day, she issued an order extending the curfew for 15 days.
While President Trump, who had addressed supporters and made claims of election fraud hours before, told supporters to ‘stay peaceful’, US President-elect Joe Biden called the violence an ‘insurrection’.
Here is all you need to know about the violence at US Capitol:
-In a late-night news conference, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert J Contee said that 47 of the 52 arrests to date were related to violations of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s 6 pm curfew, with 26 of those involving people arrested on US Capitol grounds. Several others were arrested on charges related to carrying unlicensed or prohibited firearms.
- Hundreds of Trump supporters entered the Capitol building on Wednesday in a bid to overturn his election defeat.
- The violence, that forced lawmakers to flee the US Capitol and resulted in the death of one woman, disrupted the process of certification of Biden as the winner in the November 3 election. However, the Senate resumed the process more than six hours after the attack.
-The FBI said it had disarmed two suspected explosive devices and officials declared Capitol ‘secure’ nearly 4 hours after the attack.
- Trump’s Twitter account was locked for 12 hours after he pushed baseless claims about the election, and the social media platform warned him of permanent ban if he didn’t remove his rule-breaking tweets. “As a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, DC, we have required the removal of three @realDonaldTrump Tweets that were posted earlier today for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy,” Twitter said in a post. “If the Tweets are not removed, the account will remain locked,” it added.
- Facebook and the platform its owns - Instagram - also said Trump’s pages will be blocked for 24 hours, according to Associated Press. Facebook’s vice president of integrity Guy Rosen said, “This is an emergency situation and we are taking appropriate emergency measures, including removing President Trump’s video.”
- Biden called for restoration of “simple decency” and said, ”The words of a president matter, no matter how good or bad that president is. At their best, the words of a president can inspire. At their worst, they can incite,” he added. He called on Trump to “go on national television now, to fulfil his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege.”
- Former US President Barack Obama said Trump incited the violence. “History will rightly remember today’s violence at the Capitol, incited by a sitting president who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election, as a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation,” he said.
Less time to read?
Try Quickreads
-
Trump calls for 'immediate' release of Mar-a-Lago search warrant
Former President Donald Trump called late Thursday for the “immediate” release of the federal warrant the FBI used to search his Florida estate, hours after the Justice Department had asked a court to unseal the warrant, with Attorney General Merrick Garland citing the “substantial public interest in this matter.” The Justice Department request earlier Thursday is striking because such documents traditionally remain sealed during a pending investigation.
-
India asks Canada to ensure security at Independence Day celebration events
For the first time ever, the Indian government has called upon Canada to ensure adequate security during Independence Day celebrations at missions in the country but to also prevent the disruption of events organised by the Indo-Canadian community. This was conveyed by India's high commission in Ottawa to Global Affairs Canada, the country's foreign ministry, in a diplomatic communique.
-
Anti-mandate protests: Doubts cast over Canada PM’s move to impose emergency in February
Doubts have been cast over the necessity for the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to impose a draconian emergency in the country in February to counter the so-called Freedom Convoy then occupying the capital of Ottawa, as documents filed in a court on Thursday appeared to indicate there was information that a “breakthrough” was possible in negotiations between authorities and the anti-vaccine mandate protesters. The Canadian government has countered these revelations.
-
Criticism as US regulator CDC loosens Covid guidelines: ‘Blood on hands…’
Over the last two years, the United States has seen coronavirus wreaking havoc while the world witnessed the worst of the pandemic in one of the world's most developed nations. Amid the spread of virus and its mutation still a matter of concern, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has taken a step forward in loosening the restrictions. Children exposed to Covid don't have to get a negative test.
-
Shelling near Ukraine nuclear plant: India calls for mutual restraint
India has expressed concerns over shelling near the fuel storage of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, as the Russian offensive continues for over five months. The shelling at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is under Russia's control since March, came ahead of a United Nations Security Council meeting on Thursday to address concerns regarding the facility's safety.
