this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. shocking scenes in america's capital. pro—trump supporters storm the capitol building, as lawmakers try to confirm joe biden‘s election as president. officials say the buiding has now been secured. astonishing pictures from the senate floor — a striking moment here when a protestor speaks directly from the pulpit. another abseiled down to the floor of congress. ealier in the day, the president told protestors the election had been stolen and he urged them to march on the capitol. once the violence unfolded though, he called for calm. this was a fraudulent election. but we cannot play into the hands of these people. we have to have peace.

so, go home. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world — and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe.we begin here in washington, where supporters of donald trump have stormed into the capitol building. their actions have been spurred by the president continuing to insist, without any evidence, that he was the rightful winner of november's election — a point he made to them again, at a rally, just a short while before they swarmed the home of american democracy. officials in washington have imposed a curfew — it began just a few minutes ago. the national guard is being deployed to help restore order. and officals say the building is now secure.

but while president—electjoe biden described events as insurrection and sedition — donald trump simply called on his supporters to remain peaceful and go home. all this came as congress was due to confirm joe biden‘s victory — something some republicans were trying to block — that process was forced to stop. and meanwhile in georgia, the democrats look set to win both senate seats — which would give their party control of the senate, the house of representatives, as well as the presidency. we begin our coverage with this report from our north america editor, jon sopel. shouting. the peaceful transfer of power, the cornerstone of american democracy seemed a highly abstract concept today. as trump supporters clashed with police as they tried and succeeded to storm the congress, where america's elected leaders had gathered to certify the election

victory ofjoe biden. earlier, in a rally outside the white house, donald trump encouraged his loyal base to fight to overturn the result of this bitterly contested election. we are going to walk down to the capital! cheering. and we are going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women and were probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them. because you'll never take back our country with weakness. you have to show strength and you have to be strong. many of his supporters needing little encouragement to join the fight. we are here to support, you know, if violence happens, like it happens, but we are not going to start, it you know? we're just here defend ourselves. i'm a mexican immigrants, i support trump. freedom is paid for with blood and tierney always masquerades itself as safety and security,

and that's what we are fighting against right now. outside the capital, the outer ring of security had been breached, the crowds had taken donald trump at his word and they were taking the fight to the heart of american democracy. they were literally banging on the doors of congress. this way! and then, some trump supporters managed to get inside. they were armed and wandering the capitol building. chanting: usa! there were tense and violent scenes with police who have never dealt with anything like this. these pictures appear to show a protester being shot inside the capital building. a stretcher was sent in, she was later given cpr. a protester breached the inner sanctum of the chamber. the vice president had to be removed to safety by his secret service detail and then the joint session was adjourned.

earlier, the republican senate leaderfor so long earlier, the republican senate leader for so long a loyal lieutenant of the president turned on him with this withering assessment. if this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral. we would never see the whole nation accept an election again. every four years would be a scramble for power, at any cost. and the vice president, whose officiating over this joint session, and has shown donald trump near slavish loyalty, also said it was not his role to overturn the verdict of the people. he went on... the president elect has gone on television to warn that american democracy is under unprecedented

assault and he made this appeal... i call on president trump to go on national television now to fulfil his oath and defend the constitution. and demand in and to this siege. now to fulfil his oath ——and defend the constitution. and demand an end to this siege. to storm the capital, to smash windows, to occupy offices, the floor of the united states senate, rummaging through desks on the house of representatives, threatening the safety of duly elected officials. it's not a protest, it's insurrection! donald trump has spoken. he called on his supporters to stand down, but condemnation, there was none. this was a fraudulent election. but we can't play into the hands of these people. we have to have peace. so go home, we love you,

you are very special. the chamber has emptied, democracy puts on hold, outside, they were scaling the ramparts, for the moment, in charge, believing they have the right to overthrow the will of the people. tonight, this shining city on the hill as america likes to describe itself, feels as though the light of democracy is flickering dangerously. jon sopel, bbc news, washington. in 20 years of covering america's politics, these are scenes i never thought i would see, president trump, by the way, just in the last few minutes, has tweeted he is not condemning these riots and the storming of the capital. this is what he says, for what it's worth. "these other things and events when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly and unfairly

treated for so long. go home with love and mp5, remember this day forever. " love and mp5, remember this day forever." so there is the president of the united states after the scenes we have seen of the united states after the scenes we have seen with reports that a woman has died during these conflicts, members been forced into their offices, locked in their offices, calling these protesters, the people who broke through police cordons and went into the chamber of the house of representatives and the senate and calling them "great patriots." again, senate and calling them "great patriots. " again, blaming senate and calling them "great patriots." again, blaming this on what he says was a fraudulent election. there is no evidence that the election was fraudulent. all the evidence is thatjoe biden wanted. all the evidence is thatjoe biden wanted. all the evidence is thatjoe biden wanted. —— one it. the mayor of washington dc called a news conference to explain the steps she was taking to restore order to the city. her chief of police explained how the protests had got out of hand. as you are aware, demonstrators came to our city this morning to exercise their first amendment rights and were largely concentrated in the area of the national mall.

following the presidents remarks, a large crowd began to merge eastbound on madison avenue northwest to constitution avenue northwest as the demonstrators approach the united states capitol grounds, there was a noticeable change in their demeanour. they breached the fencing along the us capitol grounds and confronted police lines surrounding the building. mpd was requested by the united states capitol police to provide assistance with crowd management, and due to the violent behaviour towards the police officers there and they are intent on gaining access to the capital, a riot was declared. it was clear that the crowd was intent on causing harm to our officers by deploying chemical irritants on police to force entry into the united states capitol building. as you are aware, they were able to gain access to the capital building, and i can confirm that one civilian was reported to have sustained a gunshot wound inside of the capital.

that is dc‘s police chief. we have now heard as well from washington authorities on capitol hill that the actual capital building has been secured. washington will be placed under curfew shortly, the national guard will be deployed to instill calm. the violence we have seen today, however, is unprecedented. here are the pictures live from capitol hill. you can see secured he forces now starting to move into the area. i'm joined now byjordan colvin, a former dc police officer and former republican congressional staffer. thank you very much forjoining me. what is your reaction to the security situation up on capitol hill? we knew today was going to be tense. we had heard these protests we re tense. we had heard these protests were coming and that they were threatening some kind of violence. why wasn't security better upon capitol hill? there were two event schedule, when events schedule today

behind the white house, and that was a permitted event, but to hold another event there would have to be separately permanent through capitol hill police. and essentially was a perfect storm of protesters showing up. they marched up pennsylvania avenue. it was the perfect storm. seven —— several law enforcement agencies are involved. park police overseas the event earlier in the day. there has been quite a lot of criticism of the different treatment of black lives matter protesters over the course of the summer here in washington, dc and these protesters up on capitol hill. you come as you are watching the coverage, can you see a discrepancy in the way that security authorities here in washington handled these two different groups? i am not fully

aware of all the circumstances regarding the events today and the blm protests that occurred this summer. blm protests that occurred this summer. many of the protests, my understanding, many of the protest that occurred this summer were not permitted events, nobody applied for them. the event behind the white house today was permitted for 5000 people. they received a permit to hold that event. the protests this summer hold that event. the protests this summer were spontaneous protests. there was planning done for the event today and that is why it was unanticipated. i assume that during your time as the dc police officer, your time as the dc police officer, you never saw anything on the scale of what we saw this afternoon and are breeching of security and protesters, mob, whatever you want to call it, storming the capital building. no, i have never seen anything like this. dc police train their officers very well to protect people's first amendment rights and continue to improve them. i know

under mayor bowser, they have broadened that effort to better trained officers. there are always incidents and things that go wrong protecting that right is one of the wrist privileges of being a police officer, especially in the nation's capital, and myself included, this was unanticipated, this is unforeseen. this is a gross violation of first amendment exercise. would you expect to see numerous people arrested as a result of this? absolutely. the curfew began about 13 minutes ago here in dc. mayor bowser has established that they will be enforcing the cu rfew, that they will be enforcing the curfew, and that means arrests. 0k, jordan, thank you very much for joining us there former police officer, and as she was think there, the curfew in washington began about 13 minutes ago. it continues until six o'clock tomorrow morning. so now

technically come all of the people, and we can see the live pictures from the capitol hill area, anyone who is out on the streets is in violation of the curfew and therefore are subject to the sanctions of law enforcement officials. now, we have been speaking to our correspondence during the day who are outside the capitol building, and they are sink of the protesters don't have any intention of leaving. they have been cleared from the capital building itself, and members of congress who we have been speaking to over the last few hours are adamant that they are going to continue the business of democracy in america, that they are very don't not going to continue the certification of joe are very don't not going to continue the certification ofjoe biden as the certification ofjoe biden as the next president of united states. it was a process that was held up because some republicans in the senate and house of representatives we re senate and house of representatives were contesting that certification process. it will be interesting to see after the events of today and after republicans and democrats alike were put in a position with their own personal scared he was at risk whether some of this team has

gone out of that opposition to the process ofjoe biden being certified as the next president of united states. let's go inside the capital building. our correspondent lebo diseko was inside the capitol building when security officials ordered her to stop broadcasting and move to a safer area. you have moved positions. what is the situation now? the cafeteria is just to my left. we stepped out into the corridor, there was some police activity here a few moments ago. we are still locked down. they have let us move are still locked down. they have let us move just are still locked down. they have let us movejust outside are still locked down. they have let us move just outside the cafe, that's the only change, really. but we are hearing, as you have that the members of the house of representatives opposite do want to continue tonight. we have this from james clyburn, he is the house majority for the house of representatives. so i have faced violence before, was not deterred then and i will not be deterred now. just to put that into some context, he met his wife after being arrested

ona he met his wife after being arrested on a civil rights march, and he was imprisoned. so i think that really just goes to show how people here are seeing this. i've been talking to so many people that i was locked down with our people but work here, and we have been watching all of this play out on the tv. and they we re this play out on the tv. and they were just telling me this play out on the tv. and they werejust telling me how this play out on the tv. and they were just telling me how painful this is for them, actually, because what they say is they are seeing a democratic process being completely disrespected and the democratic institutions of this country. i went to everything you're saying, and it's super interesting, and i wa nt to and it's super interesting, and i want to get the atmosphere there. can you move your microphone a little closer to your mouth. there isa little closer to your mouth. there is a lot of background noise, and we are not hearing you as well as i would like to. maybe we can pick up the microphone a little bit more. is there a... between republicans and democrats that they are both in this together and that perhaps some of the steam has been taken note of the

bitterness of the last few days? well, i'm not sure. iwill try bitterness of the last few days? well, i'm not sure. i will try to protect my voice —— project my vice a little bit more it's not the mic that you see here. but i really don't know. what i do know is that there is a sense of shock to just under stunned niss really at what was happening. we do know that certainly the republican leader in the senates, mitch mcconnell had told his senators not to do this and he begged them not to do this. i would imagine, as you would imagine, when i say not to do this, i mean not to and take the opposition that he was planning to and they had urged calm. so i don't know how we manage to speak to any members, and i would imagine that they are feeling up sense of shock of what's

happening. i can see people walking past you, and i guess the process while walking past you has that ms. fear... —— atmosphere changed, are people talking about what's happened outside the building because ill people are definitely aware about what's happening outside the building. i asked the policeman not long ago do you know how long it will be until we can leave, we have no idea, we are still locked down there was a frightening moment a few moments ago actually when we heard ona moments ago actually when we heard on a tanner that dc is about to go into curfew. so you will be arrested if you are not left the building, but we can't leave the building. so it's a bit of a you know, people are trained to ta ke a you know, people are trained to take it within their stride, but it isa take it within their stride, but it is a bit tense at the moment. leva disciple, vicki very much for joining us inside the building, interesting to see there are people moving around inside the capital. outside, we are starting to see a pumped up security presence. there

are riot police and in riot gear moving these protesters away from the capital building its clear things are calmer now. joining me now is ray mabus former governor of mississippi and former secretary of the navy. what do you make of what you saw on capitol hill today? shocking and appalling. these folks are thugs and criminals. and trying to overturn a legitimate election committee thing we should all be appalled, we should be angry one thing we shouldn't be as surprised. this has been a done they are claiming fraud with apsley no proof, lying about the results of the

election, trying to overturn a peaceful democratic election, and it leads to things like the. you are a former secretary, and you know the allies are watching what's happening here and perhaps more important, america's adversaries has been —— adversaries have been watching too. what do you think they are making that have played out around the world today in capitals like moscow and beijing. i think that the people there probably couldn't be happier with what's happening, but they are watching the attempted destruction of american democracy. they are watching things happening on the inside that they are trying to do for yea rs inside that they are trying to do for years from the outside. and we have always had the moral high ground, we and our allies about democracy, about peaceful protest,

about the right to assemble, and we just lost that. i think that that's going to be one of the huge rebuilding tasks for president—elect biden and president—elect harris to try to restore that sense that america doesn't do things that sway. because for the last four years, we have done things this way, and it's cost us our standing in the world. it's cost our standing with our allies. it has emboldened the tyra nts allies. it has emboldened the tyrants of the world, the people in moscow and beijing. and it'sjust something that it's going to take a long time to fix, but we have to start. and the way to start is to —— by identifying and prosecuting everybody who stormed the capital,

who displayed the scenes of rebellion against our national government and against our national authority, just by word and deed to say, this is unacceptable, and that there are really large consequences for doing it. the president has tweeted again just within the last few minutes calling the people who stormed the capital great patriots. how does, how do these two sides of america reconcile when the president won't confront his supporters over something that is clearly a breach of america's national security, and an illegal and violent act. we understand, we don't know the circumstances, but one woman was shot and killed during the storming of the capitol building. and yet, the president is still refusing to

condemn the people that did this. well, i think it's worse than he is refusing to condemn, he has been actively encouraging the speech he made today, the actions he's taken before the election, but particularly since before the election, claiming that it was stolen, claiming —— since the election, somehow widespread fraud, claiming that there were conspiracies, trying to undo the will of the american people. he lost an election by 7 million votes. and this is not a case of the people who voted for him needing a voice, democracy, you have a winner and a loser. and for democracy to wear, both sides have to accept the outcome and do it in a peaceful way and transfer power in a peaceful way, and that's why it's going to be

s0 way, and that's why it's going to be so hard to fix because he has been ramping this up, and my only hope is that with the inauguration of president biden and vice president harris that he will become an increasingly fringe figure. because the american people have shown, yesterday in georgia, that they are not going to put up with these sorts of claims that are just lies and no proof. and that they are going to elect their own representatives and except those people to accept the outcomes of elections. re, former governor of mississippi, thank you very much forjoining the programme. let's get a recap of the invasion of the capital building by supporters of president trump today. you can see the pictures there as they go up

past the capital police. on the steps of the capitol building. it does seem that some pepper spray or other type of substance may have been thrown around at that moment. some of the group at the front are wearing masks. there are no weapons that we can see there, and the security officials on the steps do not appear to be reaching for any weapons of their own either. however, when it becomes clear that they cannot hold back the advancing protesters, you can see they begin to give way. security officials a few minutes later, riot police tried to make their way through the crowds to make their way through the crowds to reinforce the security teams inside. they are wearing full protective gear. but they don't appear to be using weapons either. the protesters then eventually made their way right into the very heart of the building.

here they are inside one of the main lobby areas, the world—renowned rotunda. things to note — no weapons on display, no threats of violence — but also, no security officials present, nor any attempt to make them leave. it's been an extraordinarily disturbing day here in the capital. 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 with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. supporters of president trump have broken into the us capitol building, during a march protesting against his election defeat. the chambers of both the senate and the house of representatives were placed into lockdown, and riot police were deployed. a group of people moved into the main building which was supposed to be the scene of the comfirmation ofjoe biden's election win. congressional officials have said the capitol building in washington is now secure. ealier in the day, the president told protestors the election had been stolen and he urged them to