In Washington on January 6, a large-scale protest action by supporters of the current US President Donald Trump took place.
The thousands-strong rally called "March to Save America" took place against the backdrop of a meeting that began in Congress to approve the results of the country's presidential elections, which were won by Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
Trump himself, speaking to his supporters, refused to admit defeat in the elections, reports Reuters.
Supporters of the American leader announced falsifications in the last vote, called Biden's victory illegitimate and began to clash with police officers, in response they used tear gas.
Some time after the start of the demonstration, the protesters came to the Capitol and, after clashes with law enforcement officers, were able to break into the building.
The protesters occupied the Senate hall and several offices, including the President of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.
As a result, the congressional meeting was interrupted, the police evacuated the legislators.
Donald Trump on Twitter urged supporters not to resort to violence.
“I ask everyone in the US Capitol area to continue to act peacefully.
No need for violence!
Remember, we are the Party of Law and Order.
Treat the Law and our wonderful policemen with respect.
Thank you!"
- he wrote.
Amid the unrest, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a curfew in the city from 6:00 pm on January 6 to 6:00 am on January 7th.
Later, she announced that the emergency regime in the city would be in effect until January 21, that is, it would end after the inauguration of Joe Biden.
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In turn, the press secretary of the White House, Kayleigh Makinani, said that the National Guard fighters were sent to the capital on Trump's orders, and also recalled that the president was calling on the protesters to renounce violence.
After a while, police officers were able to force the protesters out of the congressional Senate courtroom.
As a result of the riots in the Capitol, a woman died - she was shot and later died in hospital, said the head of police in Washington, Robert Conti.
“A number of persons forced their way into the Capitol building and tried to enter the chamber of the House of Representatives where the meeting was taking place.
Their path was blocked by officers of the Metropolitan Police in civilian clothes, and at that moment one of the officers fired from his service weapon, hitting an adult woman.
She was taken to a local hospital, but, despite the efforts of doctors, she died, ”TASS quoted him as saying.
Conti also reported the deaths of three more people in the Capitol area during the riots, but did not specify the circumstances of the incident.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden posted a video message on Twitter, in which he called the protests outside the congressional building a riot that threatened democracy, and demanded that Trump appeal to citizens with an appeal to end the unrest.
A little later, Trump did urge the protesters near the Capitol to go home.
Meanwhile, the social network Twitter blocked the account of the American leader for 12 hours due to the current situation, and also authorized the removal of several of his posts as containing controversial information.
The temporary freeze of Trump's account was also reported by Facebook and Instagram.
Some time later, NBC News reported that FBI special forces had entered the Capitol building.
At the same time, CNN reported that two explosive devices were found in the center of Washington.
Later, Reuters, citing representatives of the US authorities, reported that the Capitol building had been cleared of protesters and was safe.
After that, congressional hearings were resumed to sum up the results of the presidential elections.
Following the meeting, the Senate and the House of Representatives approved the victory of Joe Biden.
Protests also took place in other American cities.
So, in New York, the police have strengthened security measures in the Trump Tower area in connection with the rally held there by Donald Trump's opponents.
At the same time, the Governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, against the backdrop of protests, declared a state of emergency in the state, and also imposed curfews in Arlington and Alexandria counties.
The journalist Chedevik Moore, in a conversation with RT, expressed the opinion that the protests have become a kind of way for American citizens to “throw out the accumulated discontent” and indicate a very tense situation in the country.
“This tension has been observed for a long time, but it, of course, was fueled by the closure of the economy and lockdowns.
In addition, there are at least 80 million voters who believe that their elections were stolen, that they were rigged.
And so they arrived in Washington, storming the Capitol, letting off steam, ”he said.