what is happening in washington, dc. quite extraordinary scenes as a protest to save america march has ended up on the steps of the capitol building and the president spoke a little bit at his son spoke a little bit earlier, donald trump spoke at this rally saying that this is not your republican party anymore. this is donald trump's republican party that was aimed at republicans who have decided to accept the outcome of this. to accept the outcome that joe biden will be the next president into those the donald trumpjunior said of this rally, this is not your republican party, this is donald trump republican party and it is evident in spreading as the days and weeks go on after president elect joe biden assumes office. led me hear now what donald trump's son is saying who spoke at this rally. have

a listen. we will never give up, we will never concede, you will not concede when there is theft involved. our country has had enough and we will not take it anymore. mike pence is going to have to come through for us and if he does not, that will be a sad day for our country. because you are sworn to uphold our constitution. and this the presidents son. this gathering should send a message to them, this is not there republican party anymore. this is donald trump republican party. and will she would have been a few minutes ago, when protests have gathered at the steps of the capitol building managed to

push through the security personnel position as you can see some people running up and over the next few minutes, people poured of those steps and some into the areas just inside of them looking across washington, some of them crucially appear to have managed to get into the building because the us capitol police are saying that both houses of congress are in recess and in pa rt of congress are in recess and in part because of a security breach inside the building at that backs up what we have seen from boston globe reporters and nbc reporters were sing a small number of protesters pushed the doors and managed to get through the doors and so this is the picture from a little while ago and we are seeing what's happening right now and how things have developed. more and more people gathering at the front of the capital and the camera person and security personnel and looking at ebenezer worker from washington, dc, lots and lots of viewers will be asking not why they are arriving now but why were they

there in the first place. it is remarkable that they did not have sufficient security clearly to keep protesters out of the us capitol and looking at video right now, protesters are walking through the hallway of the capital, the us capitol and the clearly breached the security and got into the us capitol they clearly breached the security and got into the us capital and that is why there is a temporary suspension of proceedings although there are reports of the house of representatives are preparing to return to recession and there is, there's going to be some very real questions asked about why this was allowed to happen. and the mayor of dc has enough there's going to be a 6pm curfew in washington, dc. so, the entire city is racing for these protests to continue and if they're not met law enforcement, the possibility that they can turn violence is protests in dc have done

in the past within this past year. if there is not something done contain them. more developments and some of them, and i'm to pass them on. there seen the protesters are not walking throughout the building in the building seems to have been breached and jonathan, a journalist with the philadelphia inquirer is saying that security says they have deployed tear gas in the us capital and advising lawmakers to take out the mass under their seats and so it seems there is an ongoing security situation in the right of the heart of the building. yes, the videos of protesters walking through the halls of the us capitol, walking through the hall where all of the statues of various historical figures around the country have been erected and thatis the country have been erected and that is not something that is easy to do and simply should not have been something that should be easy

to do today with something so important was going on in congress and when the authorities knew that there were going to be tens and thousands of protesters, gathered around washington, dc as i mentioned before, i have seen security preparations being made and they had large garbage trucks blocking of the avenue which runs the length of the hall, but for traffic and protesters who had begun gathering at the white house and as early as seven this morning after they donald trump gave his speech, they started to walk towards the capital is donald trump encourage them to do and once they got there, they were able to get inside the capital and disrupt the proceedings at least temporarily. donald trump is watching this plan god and he isjust donald trump is watching this plan god and he is just tweeted donald trump is watching this plan god and he isjust tweeted out, please support our capitol police and law enforcement, truly on the

side of our country, stay peaceful says the president, whether that is happening or not inside the capitol building, we are still to ascertain. he is saying that they are praying in the chamber is protesters reach the doors and we have no other confirmation of that but we do know from multiple sources that there are protesters in the building at the moment and our colleague observes if this were happening at a different country or in a different continent, would be talking of a failed state. but the point here is that while it is shocking and while it is different and it is extraordinary, it is also in some ways in light with the direction of travel of the donald trump presidency. donald trump even before this presidential election in november was saying that there are chances that the vote would be rigged against him and that he suspected that the mail in ballot would be fraudulent is calling into question the very democratic institutions responsible for running

these elections. of course, in the days after the night of the election, he began lobbying accusations saying that the inflection was being stolen from them and he is continued month after month until he got to this point and so, i suppose it shouldn't be surprising that donald trump supporters and we know that she has a sizeable minority in this country that fervently supports them. 34% of the american public have stood by this president we should not be surprised that they are listening to what he is think about the election, about how he feels that the election is being stolen from him and taking it to heart. being on the streets in washington and the area just in the past few days, you can see donald trump supporters streaming into the capital area. flying there donald trump flags on their vehicles, into the city, just yesterday, mitt romney when he was coming back to dc, the senator from romney when he was coming back to dc, the senatorfrom utah romney when he was coming back to dc, the senator from utah was on a flight dc, the senator from utah was on a flight and full of donald trump

supporters, they actually chanted trader at him as he was on the plane and confronted him in the airport. so, people from around the country expressing their support for donald trump and donald trump in his speech just a few hours ago stoked the fla mes just a few hours ago stoked the fla m es of just a few hours ago stoked the flames of the resentment and directed them to capitol hill reset the election was going to be stolen from them. and the stage was set for u nrest from them. and the stage was set for unrest that we are seeing play out right now. stay with us, just a reminder that nbc, walking throughout the building another journalist security said they have deployed tear gas in the us capital in the washington post saying the same thing, tear inside but ijust wa nt to same thing, tear inside but ijust want to say that tell me more about what you are. , i'm on the steps of the capital weren't what you are. , i'm on the steps of the capital we ren't exactly what you are. , i'm on the steps of the capital weren't exactly two weeks, joe biden seemed to be inaugurated in an area that is been closed off in the past half an hour.

right in front of where i am we see protesters scaling the fences and still in the air reminiscent of the tear gas fired here for more and more protesters are continuing to scale the fence income of the area thatis scale the fence income of the area that is been cordoned off and areas cordoned off and set up for the inauguration and in two weeks' time, extraordinary sincere with thousands of people all around this building, all around capitol hill and as i say more and more getting onto the capital ground and very little police presence where i am in the area around here that a son one instance, a police car being stopped by protesters who were standing in front of it and shouting usa, usa as the, is a peaceful? it is peaceful

and that there is no confrontation because no one is around to confront them. the security forces there are not any. but the number of people who are hesitant on capitol hill, you can hear cheers all around me, but the number of them all around the capital building, even into the capital building which of course, a huge security room. before we keep talking, earlier, both had to go into recess and some protesters have managed to get inside the building and when you look at the protesters that are close to you, what point are they trying to make? what outcome are the hoping for today? they have been fired on by hours and hours of speeches, including from the president himself saying that

the president himself saying that the election has been stolen and all around me, there saying stop the steel and they are hoping some futile hope that the election results will overturned, be but they have been told by speaker after speaker that they need to somehow ta ke speaker that they need to somehow take back the country and clearly, some felt that... his phone line, we will leave it there because your phone line * on the way in the past couple of hours but as soon as we clear that up, we will come back to you. close to these protests in front of the capital building and in some degree inside the capitol building. just a reminder that while the majority of people are outside, some people have managed to make their way onto the steps of the capitol building in small numbers are inside the building and be of multiple reports of tear gas being deployed in warnings issued selling

people to stay away from windows and stay away from doors and we all know members of congress certifying the election results that president trump and time in office in a couple weeks and joe biden will take over in the process has been halted because of his security alert that is not been declared across the capital building. let us reiterate a couple of things that we are hearing, multiple reports that tear gas is been used and that vice president mike pence who was a centralfigure in president mike pence who was a central figure in today's formality had to leave the us senate because of that security alert that is been declared. we are not sure whether or not donald trump is following this from the white house. in the last few minutes, donald trump is treated about the protests. please jake from nbc has tweeted this video

and the last few minutes. protesters breaking against the doors. let's bring in the bbc, we know you had to move, tell us we managed to get to now. we have been moved from the passageway to the cafeteria for safety reasons. you saw the pictures of donald trump supporters outside the buildings as you are saying and representatives and the senate have been moved from the floor and mike pence has been taken away as well andi pence has been taken away as well and i have never thought i would see this in the united states of america. have we seen gerry connolly and other members evacuating and they said they had been given gas masks and that is connected to the report the tear gas is been used to

deal with the protesters. we are seeing some reports of this and inside, basically everybody that is in the building where we were where they were reporting of the proceedings in terms of certifying the electoral college vote were told to move by police, but we were evacuated and with that we are going to be taken out of the building, but we have been told that this is a lockdown and the mayor of dc has not declared, and emergency alert there but the mayor of dc has now declared a curfew at six p:m., everyone has to be home and it isjust unbelievable and use of the donald trump, she has not told his protesters to leave, he has not told them to stop doing what they're doing and we heard him earlier on today telling them to come up to the

capital and protest. it is com pletely capital and protest. it is completely unprecedented. capital and protest. it is completely unprecedentedm capital and protest. it is completely unprecedented. is coming up completely unprecedented. is coming up to eight o'clock in the uk, succumbing up to three o'clock in the afternoon in washington and so on three hours' time, a curfew is going to be introduced in the whole city. that's what i understand we are looking at the tweets and tc for wednesday, and starting from 6pm to thursday january the 7th at seven a:m., social workers including health care personnel in media are exempt from this. it just shows health care personnel in media are exempt from this. itjust shows you how this is being taken and telling his protesters that they should move away and they have yet to do that. thank you very much indeed, i can see that the bbc nick bryant has retweeted a video shared by another journalist showing scuffles between

police and protesters inside the capitol building and this is absolutely quite extraordinary. this is from a politics reporter saying that they are in the chamber, one is yelling trump won the election. there's absolutely no reason to doubt that it is an image that comes with that, they are reporting that now in one of the chambers and process that donald trump in the election, they believe donald trump is unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud and notjust up the steps, it seems to all areas but it seems like the entire building is on his security lockdown and if not possible to stay in their offices and we can see the bbc will be joining us shortly and she spoke to

one politician inside was saying that i'm stuck in my office because it is not safe to leave and these are life pictures coming in further away from the capital building where things are a bit calmer. but the pressure point is up on the steps and by those doors and into the rotunda, the famous rotunda of the capital building. these are quite extraordinary developments and they are coming all the time at the moment. jake, i was mentioning that protesters are walking throughout the building in the building seems to have been breached and cnn is saying that there is an armed standoff at the door of the house floor and this is absolutely unprecedented and this is true and there's no reason to doubt it. reported by cnn, an armed standoff at the door of the house of representatives. people begging on the doors of the us house of

representatives chamber in an apparent attempt to get inside and others think that the house chamber has reporters inside have been told to get down on the floor by capitol police and the police are telling reporters in the house of representatives, america's house of representatives, america's house of representatives to get down on the floor because of the security situation and also a reminder that the huffington post is reporting that some protesters are inside the chamber which would sit with what we are getting from the police. we are also hearing matt from the huffington post saying that shots of been fired in the chamber and again, this is coming from the huffington post and that is also just with us. so the story is developing all the time and an incredible rate. bear in mind we began the programme and underan hourago, mind we began the programme and under an hour ago, the protesters are gathering at the bottom of the steps of the capital but they were not even up the steps, let alone beyond that into the doors of the

capitol building and insight into the chamber and while it may be very obvious to say some, it is worth reiterating that both of these houses of congress which were in the process of certifying the presidential election are in recess. the politicians have had to leave because the security alert being declared and that includes vice president mike pence was overseeing the process in the senate. all of those in the house of representatives and the senate had to leave us to chambers in the process of certifying joe biden as the next president of united states of america has been suspended. reports on the huffington post that shots have been fired in the house chamber and we have witnesses saying that people inside the chamber being told to get on the floor and other witnesses telling reporters that people are banking on the doors of the chamber in an apparent attempt to get in. the huffington post on the current situation in the chamber. please, yelling shots fired, while they try to talk to

protesters down. policing this is not the way to do it. and we know from other reports that these protesters have been shouting enchanting variations in the fact that donald trump won this election which the president has been saying during election items of after he gave that extraordinary statements think is going to resist the projection of the election results in saying that he felt he had one and he feels he has won every sense but he has not offered any evidence to back that up in the american electoral process has through the course, today, it was going to be the day they brought their process to an end, both houses of congress certified the results and their respective states and confirming what we all knew which was thatjoe biden would become president at the inauguration. that is still going to happen at some point but will also not happen right now because both those chambers are in recess, they cannot do the process of certification because of this

security situation which is unfolding minute unfolding minute by minute. we know the your gas is not being used inside and we know the protesters, we know that reports of shots being fired in the house, protesters inside the chamber being shared now on social media as well. delicate time in washington, a precarious time for america and its democracy in kathy k is going to be showing us what is happening here. public service broadcast in the us think this is a real test of the security of the front door of the capital which so far protesters are trying to break into the front door the capital and that moment has not passed and as we were saying, m essa 9 es passed and as we were saying, messages are being played telling people to stay away from windows and

doors and that is something that is being played for some time. people, this building plays a crucial part in the united ration process. from other presidents before him. joe biden his inauguration on the 20th was under way and we were expecting it to be under way in those that are in and around the inauguration, they are all over with their flags saying donald trump 2020 and various other things as well. we are also getting reports from kansas and which they say the tensions were hearing are not just and which they say the tensions were hearing are notjust from washington, dc, but also inside the state parliament. local reports and also reports of some militia appearing near important state government buildings in georgia and

will be very focused on georgia because of those two republican senate, those two senate runoffs that concluded in the past few hours and election day was yesterday and both republican incumbents look like they have lost and one looks clear enough for us to be confident of that and the other one involving the democratjohn loss that and the other one involving the democrat john loss off that and the other one involving the democratjohn loss off appears to be much closer and that means that the democrats will control the house of representatives, and the presidency too which will upset the republicans. —— ossoff. that is broad political pressure to bear in before these moments that we are seeing now, let us begin my colleague was with us from washington, dc and can help us pick up washington, dc and can help us pick up the story. these are extraordinary scenes that we are seeing in washington, dc, the day

began with the results, two senate races and with protesters loyal to president trump, storming police barricades outside of the capital, storming the capital building itself and now according to news reports and now according to news reports and very tense standoff with law enforcement officials inside. ijust got off the phone with congress who have been told to shelter inside his office, locked the door for safety reasons and he and his staff cannot leave his office building and i have covered american politics are 20 yea rs covered american politics are 20 years and i have never seen anything like this. this is the combination of extraordinary tenants for years in american politics on the eve of the inauguration of president—elect joe biden and we are seeing that the clash of mr trump supporters and the process of democracy that have been taken place inside the building being disrupted by a mob of

supporters and mob is the right word, storming the building of the us capital. you arejoining us for a bbc news special and viewers in the united states welcome to the special coverage of extraordinary events here in washington where protesters have stormed the capitol building. they breached police barricades we have not seen they breached police barricades we have not seen scenes they breached police barricades we have not seen scenes of things like this before the process of democracy was unfolding inside the capitol building isa was unfolding inside the capitol building is a certification of the elector and the result was being played out. but that has now been disrupted. members have congress have been told to shelter in place inside their offices and lock the doors for security reasons. it is apparent that security at the us capitol was not adequate. capitol police were overwhelmed by these forces. the dc mayor has now instituted a curfew for three hours'

time here in washington. and reinforcements are being called in. but these are extremely ten scenes both outside the capitol building and inside the capital building. the president trump has tweeted asking a law enforcement officials to be respected but he has not told these protesters to step down. and a couple of hours ago outside the white house president trump indeed said he would never concede. even said he would never concede. even said that he was going to join the protesters down here on capitol hill. no evidence of that now. that very unlikely to happen for stop security would not allow that to happen. we are watching these scenes unfold. and we are going to bring you all of the latest as we can and try to speak to a member of congress who was inside that building. inside his office. i should explain that this is the capitol building where we have the chambers, that rotund or that you see is where according to news reports, we haven't reconfirmed this ourselves because we are trying to get people from inside there. according to news reports on the us

media there is been in an armed standoff taking place inside the retarder. that's the famous room you see when you're watching american proceedings. what is the state of the union. 0r joint proceedings. what is the state of the union. 0rjoint congressional event. those are the building choosing for that that is now been emptied of all the members of congress who are in there. they've been told to go and seek safety in their own offices. what you have is their own offices. what you have is the protesters who have breached the doors. the very strong doors, i have to say. they breached those they went through the outside building and now they are in trying to get into the returned as well. my colleague barbara is down there, outside the capitol building. barbara, where are you, what are you seeing in what's going on?” barbara, where are you, what are you seeing in what's going on? i walked with the trump supporters down constitution avenue towards the building and we've been pressing forward , building and we've been pressing forward, pushing pushing to get to the front. they made it there they are surrounded by the protesters on the ground. looking up at the capitol building where we can see the trump supporters who have

basically occupied the front of it. i think the police have taken over the top balcony. but you still have others hanging onto the scaffolding along the sides. the scaffolding set up along the sides. the scaffolding set upfor along the sides. the scaffolding set up for the inauguration. the child to that crowd is veryjubilant, triumphant. people kept saying keep going, keep going. —— serious we are the people. very much that sense that they were taking over the place. and indeed these supporters, these protesters have physically traded the building. barbara, did you get a sense as you traded the building. barbara, did you get a sense as you were traded the building. barbara, did you get a sense as you were walking down from the white house to the capital building that there was a planned? capital building that there was a planned ? that this capital building that there was a planned? that this was what they we re planned? that this was what they were going to do. they knew, they had a strategy for what they were going to do? from the people that i was walking with actually, as i was

on constitution avenue it was sort ofa on constitution avenue it was sort of a party atmosphere. there was music playing, people dancing. and the members built as we got to the capital. as we tried to squeeze through i could hear people around me saying oh my goodness, they've taken over. me saying oh my goodness, they've ta ken over. look me saying oh my goodness, they've taken over. look at that! they could see the man on the scaffolding and then at one point eight large american flag was hung from the scaffolding. that was one that the protesters brought with them there was enormous chairs. my view here is that watching it unfold as a happen. if they perhaps was a plan ——. that watching it unfold as a happen. if they perhaps was a plan --. you describe the atmosphere is jubilant. i'm watching the scenes in it looks pretty tense. especially the standoff with law enforcement. but that's not what you're feeling. does it feel scary, tense to you where you are? no, but i'm not right

there. where the law in sportsman is engaging to the people who are actually on the building. i'm down on the ground in front of the building in the grassy area. and on the pavement where in front of the capitol building. i don't get a sense of danger down here. as we we re sense of danger down here. as we were pushing forward some of were shouting to bring water, take this water with you. i think they must have been trying to respond to some tear gas that it happening before we came. i seen coloured smoke and i think was a slayer. but i... barbara, your line is breaking up. i know there are a lot of people down there and they're probably all competing for cell phone signals. we will come back to you when we can reestablish that. i just want to show you what happened about a half an hourago show you what happened about a half an hour ago when protesters started swarming up these steps. they broke through a police barricade. capitol

police, the us capitol has its own police, the us capitol has its own police force and dc knew this was going to happen. as residents in washington we had been warned not to go down there. so the police were ready but look, those protesters just broke through that police line. went straight up these steps, those of the steps you may have seen them from pictures, from movies around the world. that is where the inauguration takes place. they come from the white house, they stormed up from the white house, they stormed up the steps and then i think we can show you perhaps our gallery in london can show you, these are gas masks, police riot police coming in to help with gas mask. by this time they had actually stormed through they had actually stormed through the capitol police line. they are coming in to try and help the situation now. our director london can show you the pictures from inside the capital. from inside the building. it is statuary halls famous entryway building inside the us capital. it's slightly bizarre, i have to say for the pipe and

watching these pictures for the last 45 minutes or so and the protesters are sort ofjust wandering through. they look like they are on a tourist visit or something. i can't see any sign of security there. then you would normally expect security to be there. a couple of officers but not really doing very much to try and stop them, i guess they can't. they are wandering through and they're trying to make their way into that famous rotunda. which is where until about an hour ago the members of congress had been holding a debate on the outcome of the us election. that is what we had expected to be covering today. instead we are covering today. instead we are covering these scenes of protesters storming the building. my colleague is outside capital hill. where are you and what are you seeing? is outside capital hill. where are you and what are you seeing ?|j is outside capital hill. where are you and what are you seeing? i am outside the west side of the capital. ma'am, bring your camera over there. the fbi just shot a woman over there. the fbi just shot a woman right there. somebody is

shouting fbi has a shot somebody. i can't verify that. i can introduce you to a gentle excuse me ryan,. a gentleman here who said he went to the building earlier. i was here the past hour or so it was relatively calm to begin with. and then it looked like ——. calm to begin with. and then it looked like --. 0k, calm to begin with. and then it looked like --. ok, that line u nfortu nately looked like --. ok, that line unfortunately breaking out. if we can get back to tyrant we will because it will be very interesting to hear from because it will be very interesting to hearfrom some because it will be very interesting to hear from some of these supporters of donald trump. that gentleman had been inside the building. had gone through the police barricades. we are hoping as well to speak as soon as possible to us congressman oil. we are trying to get a hold of him he is holed up in his office and told to lock the doors. as soon as his office and told to lock the doors. as soon as we his office and told to lock the doors. as soon as we have them on the line i will get them on the program. iwant the line i will get them on the program. i want to hearfrom members

of congress about what happened. he was in that room during the discussion that was taking place about the election procedures. we wa nt to about the election procedures. we want to hear actually how that panned out. these protesters still not going anywhere. and we are waiting. the only tweet that we have had from president trump so far has been one urging his supporters to support the capitol police. here is what president trump tweeted about 30 minutes ago both. please support our capitol police and law enforcement was up they are truly on the side of our country for the u pstate the side of our country for the upstate peaceful. but he is not calling on them to stand down. i don't know if at this stage even that would make much difference. president trump gave a barn—burner ofa president trump gave a barn—burner of a speech a couple of hours ago outside the white house to these supporters. in which he was saying, we will never concede. he was kind of burning down the house of the republican party criticising my pans, republicans are be a week, for not fighting enough. the crowd

started shouting stop the crowd was shouting fight for trump. and he was egging them on, frankly. that was what president trump was doing just a couple of hours ago. and i we have theirs. the two are not unconnected. these supporters came from president trump's speech and they made their way to capitol hill. and then they breach the police barricades and stormed the building. and this is the result of what we are saying. we can speakto... the result of what we are saying. we can speak to... i think we can hear matt fuller who is a reporter from huffington post. he was inside the chamber. and he says that there were shouts from the police, there were shots had been fired and they are trying to negotiate with protesters and talk them down. he is also tweeted this video. let's take a quick listen to this.

imean, i mean, it's clearly very chaotic inside there. it's kind of hard to get a real sense of what's happening. i can't tell you with surety is exactly happening at the returns are at the moment. except that the congressman i spoke to about half an hour ago had been told to leave the building. they've all been put onto lockdown. no one can get in or out. protesters are getting in and it seems i protesters are trying to make their way to the retarder. what we don't know, and it was strange watching those pictures of the protesters kind of wandering through statuary hall which is a room in the capital is, it's not entirely clear what the plan is. what the strategy is other than to get a huge amount of attention. which they are getting. the eyes of

the world are on these scenes in washington now. america's allies and adversaries are watching these scenes. i watching these chaotic scenes. i watching these chaotic scenes of democracy not happening as it is meant to happen. as i said earlier, i've covered now five american elections i've never seen this happen before. even in the election of 2000 which was also a very contested election. there was a peaceful transition of power back in the year 2000 between bill clinton and george w. bush. in fact, it was to this day that al gore handed over power and certify the results of the electoral college. my colleague i think, is inside the capital building now. where are you and what are you saying? well, we are in the cafeteria. we were evacuated from the spot where we were where the

media were reporting on the proceedings today. as you've explained to the audience, the certification process has now been suspended. we have had members of the house of representatives and the senate cleared from the floor put my pa rents senate cleared from the floor put my parents as well has been taken away for his own safety. you've seen the pictures of protesters swarming the building. i never thought and see anything like this in my life. certainly not in the united states. donald trump has tweeted telling his supporters to respect the police but he is not tweeted them to off. he is not stop to what they're doing. it was encouraging and his feet earlier that they decided to come down here. i think it doesn't even cover what we've experienced now. police have told us this is not likely to be a short process either. quite something. 0k, do you know how long

you're going to be there? are you getting communication from capitol hill police? police are saying that it's not going to be a short process. it's kind of goes to show their level of concern. 0bviously, they want to make sure that everybody is safe. that's why we have been asked to stay in this area without its basically the cafeteria. members of the house of representatives, the senate as well have been told to clear the floors. mike pence has been taken away for his own safety. but we don't know how long this is going to go on. very serious police are taking this very seriously. okay. stay safe, sit tight we will come back to you. we wa nt to tight we will come back to you. we want to speak to congresswoman nancy mays. shejoins us now. thank you very much forjoining us. where are you, are you safe, what's happening?

lam safe. you, are you safe, what's happening? i am safe. my staff is safe in fact ijust sent i am safe. my staff is safe in fact i just sent a i am safe. my staff is safe in fact ijust sent a text to my family, my two children to let them know that mummy was safe. i am in my office. we are in lockdown mode so we cannot come and go. because protesters have stormed the capital. they were attacking capital police and law enforcement. at the capital. so we are now on lockdown mode. if you're in the building on the campus of the capital you are going anywhere right now. and were you in the rotunda when the discussion was taking place when the discussion was taking place when the discussion was taking place when the protesters stormed the building? i was in the capital for the joint session and then as soon it was recessed for both chambers to have the debate on the objection to arizona i made my way back to my office. but at that point right after the joint session was put into recess, the office building was evacuated because it was a threat about a half a block away at the republican headquarters. the

national republican congressional committee headquarters without there was a threat they are. so we were evacuated. we were put into lockdown because of the protesters to make the capital. it's a sad day for america. you are right this is a sad day for america. and people around the world are watching these scenes. and they cannot frankly believe what they are saying. we expect a peaceful transition of democracy in this country. it is what america is famous for and it is been a huge credit of this country. and is not happening right now. how does it feel being a member of congress from south carolina? feel being a member of congress from south carolina ? you've feel being a member of congress from south carolina? you've come up here from washington, dc i imagine your families back down there knowing that this is happening. and not in the way it should. no. personally i am devastated and i'm heartbroken from what i'm seeing right now. we cannot use violence against violence. two wrongs do not make it right. and millions of people have been misled to believe that we were voting today on voter fraud. and we

we re voting today on voter fraud. and we were not. this is simply an administrative procedural vote to certify the votes of the electoral couege certify the votes of the electoral college was up in 50 states that was certified by the states. congress does not have a role to overturn the election or the electoral college and neither does the vice president. but millions of people were misled on this today. so the expectations we re on this today. so the expectations were high. and the outcome was a very low bar for our nation. and i understand the anger and frustration. i'm to stop that we didn't win the presidential election. we have one of the greatest economies in the world previous to covid—19. enter in covid—19 we had operation warp speed. we did so much good over the la st speed. we did so much good over the last four years without loss of senate last night after the action was in today, i think we're going to lose so much ground on all the progress that we made as a nation under president trump's presidency. and i'm past. this is not okay. i'm not condoning the violence. i'm worried about the constituents who came up from south carolina, here

for the protest was that they want to be peacefully protesting today. everyone has that right is a citizen of the united states will up it's a first amendment right. but peoples hands are at risk. the rhetoric that's been used leading up to today, it's wrong. personally for me, my life has been threatened on social media. others have been threatened. this is wrong. your eight republican, a supporter of presidentjohn, what your message to him right now? i am asking for a peaceful message today. to calm folks down. if we want to investigate and get to the bottom of voter fraud this is not the way to do it. if we are serious about investigating and looking into things that are very wrong with the electoral process in this country then we need to plead with those to ta ke then we need to plead with those to take a deep breath, calm down so that we can do the work necessary and congress to make that a reality. thank you very much. obviously, a

very tense situation. thank you we appreciate your time. strong language being used we apologise for that. obviously, this is a difficult situation for members who are inside that building at the moment. president trump, as it congresswoman is pointed out he has tweeted please support our capital police and law enforcement. they are truly on the side of our country. stay peaceful. we can now speak to another member of congress on the other side of the aisle brendan boyle is a lockdown as well at his office on capitol hill without he joins me well at his office on capitol hill without hejoins me now well at his office on capitol hill without he joins me now from the democratic side by phone. thank you for joining democratic side by phone. thank you forjoining me. democratic side by phone. thank you for joining me. can democratic side by phone. thank you forjoining me. can you tell me what happened to you over the last hour orso? happened to you over the last hour or so? well great to be back with you i wish the circumstances were different. shortly after one o'clock we obviously went into joint session as we done every four years since 1789. for the election of president george washington. and neverfrom then until now have we had something

like this. about 15 or 20 minutes into the session of his eye, you could hear the commotion that the us capitol had been breached. we went into recess, i am capitol had been breached. we went into recess, iam in capitol had been breached. we went into recess, i am in my office in longworth working on the remarks i have to give later this evening when pennsylvania's objection comes up in the order. and as i'm writing, about the order. and as i'm writing, about the importance of defending our democracy and making sure it doesn't commit suicide, i hear those who wa nt to commit suicide, i hear those who want to pull off a coup literally just outside my window. and sirens and little explosions going on. it's just chaos. never in a thousand yea rs just chaos. never in a thousand years did! just chaos. never in a thousand years did i ever think i would see this at the united states capitol. president trump in the last few minutes is tweeted again. he's saying i am asking for every one of the us capital to remain peaceful. no violence. remember we are the

party of law and order, respect the law and our great men and women in blue. thank you. is that enough? well, isn't that nice? after spending an hour just well, isn't that nice? after spending an hourjust outside the white house whipping up this crowd in telling them to go march on the united states capitol. and doing everything he can to incite this. and to bring this on. and by the way, he also tweeted when did it when it was already under way, he sent out a tweet blaming mike pence and was continuing to incite us. you know, the people who were here are obviously in danger. but the greater danger are those who incite them. by feeding them a steady diet of misinformation and lies. that is the ultimate cancer we need to finally end in the united states. ted cruz, the senator from texas, republican

from texas who is mounting an objection to the certification of joe biden as president and was leading this protest against the certification ofjoe biden as president, one of the senators who is leading this has also tweeted. though starting the capital need to stop now. the constitution protects peaceful protests but violence is a lwa ys peaceful protests but violence is always wrong. and those engaged in violence are hurting because they say they support. do you think that some of your republican colleagues in the house of representatives and in the house of representatives and in the senate underestimated what they were unleashing when they said that they were going to object to the certification of joe that they were going to object to the certification ofjoe biden as president? yes, i do. i'm reminded of the jfk quote those president? yes, i do. i'm reminded of thejfk quote those who seek president? yes, i do. i'm reminded of the jfk quote those who seek to ride the tiger and up inside. for a number of years from rush limbaugh and otherfar number of years from rush limbaugh and other far right number of years from rush limbaugh and otherfar right radio and other far right media outlets, and

ambitious certain politicians on the right who realise they can tap into this and that i can help further their ambition, i think they were naive about what they can also unleash once you tap into those dark forces. of course, it's notjust america's allies who are watching. it's playing on the bbc, we are playing this lie but it's going to be playing on channels across europe as well. there is going to be quite as well. there is going to be quite a lot of surprise among allies seeing this but it's going to be watched by america's adversaries too, isn't it? yeah, there is no question about that. i have a number of friends of the uk and the rest of europe and around the world who look up europe and around the world who look up to america as a beacon of democracy. in a country that attem pts democracy. in a country that atte m pts to democracy. in a country that attempts to although in perfectly promote democracy worldwide. and promote democracy worldwide. and promote human rights. the rest of the world must be looking at this today and thinking and wondering is

democracy still alive in the united states ? democracy still alive in the united states? did law enforcement to fail on capitol hill? we knew these protest were going to happen, right? there is no question that there was a failure. look, i have a lot of respect for us capital police. they generally do a greatjob. but these protests if you can still call them that, or no surprise. the street closures started yesterday in washington, dc. we were all getting ready for them. we had security procedures internally in my office that we put in place. we were already advised that we should use the tunnels and not go outside. throughout the day. but the fact that this crowd was able to breach the us capital within about 15 or 20 minutes of a starting, i think it's pretty clear the us capitol police and their leadership vastly underestimated the sort of crowd the threat posed. are you concerned, i know you're shut inside your own

office with your staffers. are you concerned for the safety of you and your staffers today? yes, absolutely. i'm more worried about, and i'm not saying this to sound brave but at least i ran for office and now i never imagined this would happen, it is my name on the door, i should be here. but i have three staffers all of whom are in their 20s. all of whom believe in public service. and i had to quickly huddle together make sure they're 0k and talk about where they can hide in our office in case the worst happen and someone gets in. our office in case the worst happen and someone gets inlj our office in case the worst happen and someone gets in. i cannot imagine that you imagine this when you are elected. thank you very much for joining you are elected. thank you very much forjoining the bbc. so, there you heard it from a comic verse men who is it! heard it from a comic verse men who is it i should out under tight security and his own office here in america. what, a country that prides it safe and sound on be in the cradle of democracy. allies are watching adversaries are also

watching adversaries are also watching these scenes of supporters of donald trump breaching security, on the steps of the capital and storming inside. we have had conference reports of shots inside the capital. your watching live picture still. within the last few minutes president trump has tweeted again. he said i am asking for eve ryo ne again. he said i am asking for everyone at the us capital to remain peaceful. no violence remember, we are the party of law and order, respect the law and are great men and women in blue. thank you. you had similar tweets as well from senior republicans was up even republicans who have been opposing joe biden being certified. we've have heard that joe joe biden being certified. we've have heard thatjoe biden is going to be speaking to the company in about ten minutes' time. we will bring you that when he does. let's have a look now inside the house chamber. you can see here capital police. these photographs drawing their guns at protesters who are attempting to enter the chambers. those of the police on the inside of

the chamber. those doing that that's a famous room that you see. look at this, this is capital police with their guns drawn as protesters smashed the windows looking into the capitol rotunda. which is where members until about an hour or so ago had been debating the us electoral process. here you have members of congress as both the congresswoman from south carolina and the democratic congress meant to say to us, they have been debating the process of democracy. the peaceful tra nsfer of the process of democracy. the peaceful transfer of power. and as the mob breach security and violently tried to start the chamber. we don't know exactly what the situation is at the moment but there you see the police with their guns drawn. level is in the basement of the capitol building. you are still in the capital lanai cafeteria. what are you being told by police at the moment? -- there

doing that we are all kind of watching audible gasp when we've seen watching audible gasp when we've seen those protesters breaking windows, smashing windows. climbing m, windows, smashing windows. climbing in, getting onto the floor and sitting in the chairs where the proceedings were taking place. really not that long ago. just to explain where we are. we were in the building where members of the house had their offices. where they do their work. we were told we had to move. through this adjoining tunnel which takes you to where we are now in the cafeteria. it's interesting donald trump just a couple of days ago said that america look like americans around the world telling them how to run our elections but we cannot run our own. i think a lot of people will find —— a president of

the united states of america refuses to a cce pt the united states of america refuses to accept the results of the election. effectively has got what he wanted. the certification process has been suspended for the day. and we will have to see how things unfold. everybody here is really quite sharp. images i thought i would never see in this country. quite sharp. images i thought i would never see in this countrylj don't would never see in this country.” don't know if you have a camera person with you if they can perhaps pan the camera around you can explain where you are and who's down there with you. i see a few people in the background standing around. who has been ushered down into the cafeteria ? who has been ushered down into the cafeteria? is their security with you? tell us a little bit more about what you can see down there. i'm not entirely sure the camera man is able to pan. where doing everything on an iphone. when trying to use our resources . iphone. when trying to use our resources. the members were kind ushered down in this title some are still in the tunnel. we came into the cafeteria. you may be able to

see there are securities has closed off the doors. nobody‘s going in and out. some people here are members... so you can't leave where you're at is that right? we're not supposed to. the door has been shut. i can see a member of security. you can see everyone is glued to the two tvs, that's what we... that's what we are saying. it's just incredible that people managed to get up there in the way they are. this was not unexpected, right? you went down to capitol hill today, covering washington. these are the live pictures we can see from inside. that is the rotunda of capitol hill, so that is under that

main dome that you see. the iconic shot where late leaders lie in state, and now the protesters are inside the rotunda. so, clearly, they have not moved out yet. we've been told security has been reinforced, but those protesters have not been moved outside yet. we knew that today was going to be tense in washington. we had been warned by the mayor and the mayor's office not to go downtown. residents we re office not to go downtown. residents were told not to go downtown. we know excerpts security was called in. i know nobody was expecting it to be like this, it seems security was nothing enough stop extra security. people were told not to come downtown today. you are right, but as you say, i don't think anybody imagined that they would breach the security of this building this way. the security is quite

serious here, they don't mess about. certainly, i never expected anybody would even try. i started out this day saying in my report that whatever donald trump thinks, the process may be delayed, but by the end of the day, joe biden will be confirmed as president elect of this country. what he has managed to do is delay the process. proceedings are suspended. as far as going forward , are suspended. as far as going forward, emergency workers and essential workers are exempt, but that shows how seriously it's taken. i think that people have had was clashes between protesters and trump

supporters on the streets of dc, but i certainly hadn't in my mind a space for that happening. stay tight, i'm sure we will come back to you soon. tight, i'm sure we will come back to you soon. take care there in the cafeteria. we're just getting you soon. take care there in the cafeteria. we'rejust getting news from the governor from virginia who says virginia, which is the neighbouring state of washington, dc, is going to send security reinforcement to virginia at the mayor's request, sending in the virginia national guard to try and help with what is clearly a security disaster here in the nation's capital. the fact that it was so easy for these protesters to breach those security defences, but they had come from a rally in which donald trump had been goading protesters, really, and saying they would never concede and he would even meet them down there i capitol hill. here he is speaking at a rally

just a couple hours ago in which he called the protesters patriotic and said they should make their voices heard at capitol hill.” said they should make their voices heard at capitol hill. i know everyone heard at capitol hill. i know everyone here will sue be marketing to the capitol building —— will soon be. to patriotically make your voices heard today, we will see whether republicans stand strong for integrity of our elections, but whether or not they stand strong for our country. i want to thank you all. god bless you and god bless america. thank you offer being here. that was donald trump speaking, a speech in which he really went to war with the republican party, although those members have not supported his unsubstantiated allegations that this election was stolen from him. of course, there has not been any proof of that. but he was attacking by name some of those republicans, calling them

weak, those who didn't support his position. we have received these pictures of the moment protesters pushed through security guards on the steps. these are new pictures who have just come the steps. these are new pictures who havejust come in. this was the steps. these are new pictures who have just come in. this was the moment they breached. you can see the security members and the protesters pushing up against them. the capitol hill members of police kind of turned around and go back into the building to try to keep the building say. of course, they know they didn't manage to do that because there are protesters who push their way into the building as well. my colleague aleem maqbool is there on capitol hill. i understand you're outside capital hill, what are you seeing? i was at the front of the building, where stand dues have been corrected. those stands will be underwrote —— were overrun by trump supporters. i've moved to the back of the building, and all

the back of the building, and all the way up the steps right to the doors of the capital building, are people with flags and trump 2020 flags. as i say, they're right up to the doors of the building. nobody is stopping them. we've only nowjust seen stopping them. we've only nowjust seen riot police deployed, but they're not close to the building, they're not close to the building, they're further away. i just spoken to one of the trump supporters who breached security and got inside the building. he stormed the capital building, he was one of the first to do that. hejust building, he was one of the first to do that. he just came out and said he was riled by the speeches that he was hearing earlier. he said the message he took from, he needed to do something to take back control of the country. he said this was about freedom. i put to him that he and other supporters have criticised some of the protests out of the george floyd killing, calling them lawless, but he said this was about

the country and freedom, and that's why this is right and that was wrong. do you get the impression that this was the plan, to storm the capital building? this particular gentleman, ryan, he said it wasjust something that overcame the people around him. when they saw there wasn't a great deal of security, they said they felt they could easily overwhelm the security that was present, so he said it wasjust a spurof was present, so he said it wasjust a spur of the moment thing. they certainly intended to march on the capital to get the messages to senators and elected officials that they wanted the election results to go back to the state and be recalculated, because they still believe these myths about widespread fraud. in terms of storming the building, this isjust an

opportunity, according to one of the people i met who actually did storm it. how did the people you've been speaking to, how did they think this plays out? do they think they can actually stop joe biden plays out? do they think they can actually stopjoe biden becoming president? i asked them exactly this, what happens now? they still insist that somehow, it will go back to the state. this is what they're being told by donald trump, by certain senators, that there was widespread fraud. they're being told that constitutional lawyers, that's what donald trump said today, are saying this can be overturned. they believe that, and they say they will keep on going. that particular man said the united states was not born out of civility, and if it takes storming the capital again, he said

he do it. the mayor of washington, dc has imposed a curfew for 6pm into a half hours' time. —— two and a half hours. i'm not seeing signs the protesters are ready to go. this debate has been suspended come up to confirm joe biden as the next president of the united states. there's nothing really happening inside the capital. are you getting the impression that these protesters are going to listen to that curfew and go home or are they there for a while? no, the mayor of washington isa while? no, the mayor of washington is a democrat. we all got an emergency warning on our phones, including all of these protesters, that said the curfew would be imposed. as you can imagine, very rude words about the mayor here. and about the dc police. they show no

signs whatsoever of adhering to that cu rfew, signs whatsoever of adhering to that curfew, or indeed, leaving at all.” don't know if you've heard this, but the press spokesperson for president trump has just tweeted saying president trump's direction, the national guard is on the way, along with other federal protective services. i know you covered the race protests last summer and the national guard was deployed then. if the national guard is deployed onto capitol hill, what happens? how did they tackle this tense situation was ? they were never close to the, they we re ? they were never close to the, they were right by the doors. i can't see the steps of the capitol building because they're packed with protesters. so, there was much more preparation ahead of many of the

protests. all around the white house. but having a presence of national guard here means there's likely to be confrontation. right now, it's relatively... i saw a line of riot police about a block away, but if there is a presence of security forces, i think people feel like they're in the mood for confrontation. a little way from the capital, i think some of these protesters stood in the way of police that were heading in this direction, chanting usa, stop the seal. i feel like people direction, chanting usa, stop the seal. ifeel like people are in the mood for confrontation —— to stop the steel. there are people with both roof vets —— bullet proof vests. you can't carry a firearm in

the city of dc, people have been arrested. i get the sense that some people are certainly in the move not to back down and go back to their cities all over the country that they come from, but now they feel they come from, but now they feel they want to continue to make their point. you've been covering pro trump supporters for the last few yea rs. trump supporters for the last few years. do you think that president trump is in a position now where he could stop this if you wanted to? he's calling for people to respect law and order, said the republican party is the party of law and order. if you specifically and clearly and directly told these protesters to leave the capital —— if he specifically told them to go home, what they do so or is this out of his control now? more than that, i think he's the only person that people here would listen to. of

course, because they have been listening to him, they got the message from his very speech a few hours ago that what they needed to do to take back their country wants to do it physically. so, i do get the sense that they are still very, very loyal to the man who brought them here in the first place. so, i that message did come to them. he's just about the only person that can make them stand down right now. what do you... i'm watching these pictures and staff are thinking this this morning, with the republicans defeat in georgia. we spoken for the last couple years about how the republican party is donald trump's party. i'm just republican party is donald trump's party. i'mjust wondering republican party is donald trump's party. i'm just wondering whether we're watching the end of trump ‘s or the end of the effectiveness of

trupism. i'm looking at senators that are saying this is gone so far. marco rubio calling on donald trump to get these people to stand down. is this how trupism ends? you have others senators who have already started the process. one would imagine, the president... who has also raised a lot of money from some of the people around me now to fight legally the election results. 60 times over across the country. but he is still managing to mobilise people to get them to donate, and

there is clearly a faction of the party that feel that if they want to remain in power, that they have to somehow to donald trump because his base comes with that. so, i don't think we can say yet whether it's the end of trumpism, because clearly, there's a faction of the party that feels it's still very much alive, and that is why they've pandered to it and enabled this ploy by donald trump, even though a lot of them acknowledged that the election has long been lost many times over. aleem maqbool, thank you very much forjoining us. you do wondered what this does to the support for people like senator ted cruz, who was a senator who led the

revolt, if you like, inside the us senate against the certification of the election of joe senate against the certification of the election ofjoe biden. i'm just watching the twitter feeds of the senior republicans. there is a lot of dismay and senior republican circles. the fact that these scenes are being watched around the world, people are very aware of how this looks, and it looks bad for american democracy in the peaceful transfer of power. this is not what is supposed to happen in this country, and it is not winning those particular senators any support amongst many of their friends and collea g u es amongst many of their friends and colleagues up in the us senate. i mentioned this earlier, press spokesperson for donald trump and the white house has tweeted at president trump's direction, the national guard is on the way, along with other federal protective services. reiterate president's call

gets violent and to remain peaceful, no sign yet. —— call against violence. no sign these professors think they need to leave the capital building. —— these protesters. anthony's isjoining us as building. —— these protesters. anthony's is joining us as well. building. —— these protesters. anthony's is joining us as weltm isa anthony's is joining us as weltm is a remarkable day in washington, dc. it's reminding me of what happened in michigan, the state capitol building there just a few months ago with the protests that broke out against the coronavirus pandemic restriction. you saw donald trump supporters storm the capital building there and confront police and threaten republicans, democratic legislators in the michigan state house. at the time, thinking, my gosh, this is amazing. and then to

see it happen here in washington, dc, not just see it happen here in washington, dc, notjust some state capital, but the united states capital itself. it makes me wonder what kind of security precautions were put into place. something like this could be allowed to be happened, you saw donald trump talking about this today, talking about these protests for weeks in advance, circulating january six on his county —— circling january six on his calendar. they certainly have made their voices heard, but probably not ina way their voices heard, but probably not in a way most republican party members would be comfortable with. we're starting to get some overseas reaction now. the secretary—general of nato tweeted shocking scenes in washington. the outcome of this election must be respected. the canadian prime ministerjustin trudeau also said he is watching these scenes in washington unfold with concern. transitions are often

sensitive times in american politics. there've been several times in modern history where you had national security crises unfold during transition periods. what does this do to america's security, given that china is washing, russia is watching, north korea is watching these scenes unfold ? watching, north korea is watching these scenes unfold? as an american watching and listening to this and leaders offering their concern, it is heartbreaking to see this play out in the us. americans like to think that their government, their nation provides some sort of example for the world. they talk a lot about american exceptionalism, about how special the united states is and how it's a beacon of democracy, an example for all countries all over the world. to have something like this happen, where the legislative

chambers of the us government have been breached, that the proceedings of the congress have been forced to be suspended, that members of congress are sheltering in place for their own security, i think it's a really bad example, the kind that setting to the world. it's extremely disheartening and concerning. we've had several senior republicans now denounce what is happen. it puts a spotlight, doesn't it, anthony, on senator ted cruz, senatorjosh hawley, the senators who led the revolt. it's difficult to imagine how they'll be able to proceed, how congress can go back and resume the counting of these boats and for these members of congress to give these members of congress to give the same speeches that they were planning on giving, challenging the

result of the election, saying the vote was stolen and there needs to be further investigation into all these allegations of fraud. itjust seems like the wrong tone to strike at this moment. there had been some movement, i think, at this moment. there had been some movement, ithink, and at this moment. there had been some movement, i think, and congress, particularly in the senate, over the past few days after donald trump's phone call to the georgia secretary of state, trying to get him to change the vote down there after the results of the georgia runoff election yesterday. there is movement from some republicans in the senate to try to distance themselves from these challenges. we saw people like tom cotton, a very conservative senator from arkansas, who is usually an ally of donald trump's, to say he was going to support certification and this was the wrong way to challenge the results of the election. also, tom cotton is looking pretty good right now. senator mike and utah, mitt romney, another republican, they look like they may have the

political high ground. people like ted grooves and josh hawley, who are putting their political futures, thinking there —— siding with the challenges —— ted cruz. thinking there —— siding with the challenges -- ted cruz. we've been talking about the republican party as the party of donald trump. does this change that? we'll have to wait and see. there've been many times where we thought this would damage donald trump, this would strip his power, people would distance themselves from him for one reason or another, and it never turns out that way. but this is, obviously, a historic moment. these images are going to be burned in americans' memories for years. also, trump's power was waning. he only has a few more weeks as president. there's a question of whether he will be able

to maintain this stranglehold he has on the republican party. you saw his veto of the defence bill overturned by both chambers of congress. you saw the candidates he was supporting in georgia apparently lose their runoff elections last night. so, his influence had been waning, and i think that this is going to give grounds for his opponents within the party to try to really push him back and take the party in a different direction. a lot has changed in american politics in the space of the last 48 hours. the centre of power is shifting. it is not quite clear how it's going to shake out, but things are changing here in the capital. ijust but things are changing here in the capital. i just want to read but things are changing here in the capital. ijust want to read out but things are changing here in the capital. i just want to read out the statement from nancy pelosi and chuck schumer. "we are calling on president trump to demand that all protesters leave the us capitol and grounds immediately. " there protesters leave the us capitol and grounds immediately." there is pressure going on the president to

put out a more forceful statement. we've heard from his press secretary, he has so far not called on these protesters to leave the castle grounds. here a tweet from the vice president, mike pence —— the vice president, mike pence —— the capital grounds. we haven't heard that yet from president trump himself, but the pressure is growing on the white house and on the president himself to put out a more forceful statement to put out a more forceful statement to in these scenes that we are seeing. here's a recap of some of the pictures we have seen from inside the house chamber. there you see capitol police with their guns drawn, trying to stop protesters from entering the chamber. this is the chamber where debates take place, where they state of the union address takes place. using these images around the world, but not images around the world, but not images of capital police with their guns drawn as mobs protest, storm

the capital. scenes we have not seen in american democracy before. good evening. the chilly, wintry—feeling weather is set to stick around for the next couple of days. this was how things looked in staffordshire wednesday afternoon. certainly still a sprinkling of snow around there. for many of us where we've had rain or some snow in recent days, it's going to turn icy through the course of tonight. do be prepared for some icy structured and untreated surfaces. bit more snow for some of us as well and freezing fog developing. so, here's the weather front is moving into the north that's going to be the troublemaker bringing sleet and snow across scotland and northern ireland through the course of tonight. it's already pushing its way to the northwest, and we're all still in the cold air mass of blue colours with winds coming in from northerly direction. so, that means temperatures plummeting really quickly through tonight. this is where we're going to be seeing the snowfall, particularly across central scotland into northern ireland. even at low levels, we could see

a couple of centimetres of snow. it'll be a mix of sleet and wet snow at the lowest levels, but quite a lot of snow over the highest ground. could be ten centimetres for highland scotland. temperatures widely well below freezing, —5 or —6 degrees or many areas, in fact. freezing fog likely a hazard across much of england and wales, especially for northwest england, through the midlands and towards wales as well. that could be quite slow to clear through the day on thursday. it should eventually break up, but may linger all day for one or two places. the sleet and snow will clear from scotland and northern ireland, pushing into parts of northern england by the time we get to the afternoon. that will be followed by sunny spells and further wintry showers heading in from the north. further south, many places staying dry across much of england and wales, but where you see the freezing fog lingering, temperatures won't get much above freezing all day. another cold day as we head through into friday. this weather front is still with us. as it heads its way south, it'll tend to fizzle out, but we still are expecting some snowfall on friday.

could snow almost anywhere across england and wales, in fact, through the course of the day. most likely through the west midlands into wales as well. further snow showers across parts of scotland. we won't all see the wintry weather, though. there'll be some dryer and sunny weather in between. and it's another cold day on friday with temperatures just two to four degrees. as we look ahead towards the weekend, there's a subtle change in the weather as the winds start to turn to more of a westerly direction. those temperatures will pick up a little bit, particularly as we head through next week. still quite unsettled at times, particularly in the north, the driest weather further south. bye— bye.

this is bbc news — chaos on capitol hil both inside and outside the building itself. lawmakers lock horns over certifying joe biden as the next president, as pro—trump protesters storm congress forcing their way into the chamber. these are live scenes from capitol hill where protesters have climbed the steps of the famous building. we've seen also violent clashes inside. one woman is in a critical condition after being shot in the chest. astonishing after being shot in the chest. pictures from the ser floor astonishing pictures from the senate floor itself. a striking moment here when a protesters speaks directly from the pulpit. another sale down to the floor of congress. only hours earlier the president

told protestors the election had