US President Donald Trump's die hard supporters clashed violently with local police and law enforcement officers Wednesday, sending the US Capitol campus into utter chaos and forcing evacuation of lawmakers from the building.
WHAT LED THE CHAOS
Hundreds of Donald Trump supporters entered the Capitol building on Wednesday in a move to overturn his election defeat. Thousands of supporters were out of control as the violence erupted. The violence forced lawmakers to flee the US Capitol. The clash resulted in the death of one woman, disrupted the process of certification of Joe Biden as the winner in the US election. The FBI said it had deactivated two suspected explosive devices and officials declared the building ‘secure’ after 4 hours of the attack.
FOUR DIED IN VIOLENCE
Four people succumbed to death as supporters of Donald Trump occupied the US Capitol. Washington DC Police Chief Robert Contee stated that a woman and three others died in “medical emergencies". Police said both law enforcement and Donald Trump supporters deployed chemical nuisances during the hours-long occupation of the Capitol building before it was cleared. On the other side, 52 arrests were made related to violations of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s curfew. 26 of those involving people arrested on US Capitol grounds.
TRUMP’S SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS LOCKED
Social media giants Twitter and Facebook have temporarily blocked Donald Trump’s account. In a statement late Wednesday night, Twitter said that Trump's personal Twitter account will be locked for 12 hours as he violated the platform's violent threats policies and will be permanently suspended if he continues to do so, Xinhua news agency reported. Even Instagram blocked Trump’s account.
WORLD LEADERS REACT
Multiple world leaders reacted to the violence and expressed concern on their social media platforms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his Twitter said, “Orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue. The democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country was “deeply disturbed" by the events in the USA. "Violence will never succeed in overruling the will of the people. Democracy in the US must be upheld — and it will be," Trudeau tweeted.
Disgraceful scenes in US Congress," tweeted Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain. "The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power," he said.
(With inputs from IANS)
