Capitol riot: National Guardsman first known current serviceman to be charged

Jacob Fracker, an off duty police officer charged in connection with the violence, is a member of the Virginia National Guard, an official said on Thursday.

Jacob Fracker, an off duty police officer charged in connection with the violent riots at the U.S. Capitol, is a member of the Virginia National Guard, an official said on Thursday, becoming the first known person currently in the military to be arrested over last week's events.

Members of the National Guard are issued weapons outside of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. (Bloomberg)

President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, forcing lawmakers to flee the inner chambers of the building, fearing for their lives.

On Wednesday, the Department of Justice said Fracker, along with another off duty police officer, Thomas Robertson, were charged after they were photographed inside the Capitol "making an obscene statement in front of a statue of (Revolutionary hero) John Stark."

On Thursday, the Virginia National Guard said Fracker is a corporal in the State's Guard and serves as an infantryman.

"The Virginia National Guard will conduct an investigation into the matter, and we will be able to release more information when that is complete," it said in a statement.

Fracker was not on duty with other members of the Virginia National Guard helping protect President-elect Joe Biden's Jan. 20 inauguration, the Guard added.

Five people including a police officer died as a result of the attack on the Capitol. The assault marks a critical moment for extremists who have seized on false claims, spread by Trump, that the U.S. election system is fraudulent and rigged.

"I think there is an increase (in extremism) based on the societal increases," the senior official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told reporters.

The official added there was also an increase because of more reporting in the military, and said the military was tracking down leads.