It was the day that shook the world and threatened to tear apart American democracy. George W Bush, president at the time of 9/11, said the scenes would not be out of place in a Banana Republic.Thousands of rioters stormed the Capitol building, the democratic heartbeat of the United States, and ran amok in an attempt to prevent the ratification of Joe Biden as US president.

But the horrifying, tragic events (one woman was later shot and killed) had been inflamed by the incumbent Donald J Trump. Since his defeat in the November election he had been pouring fuel on the detritus of his own election failure - falsely claiming the election had been stolen from him.Yesterday, he threw on the whole, messy heap a burning match. And throughout the day he kept throwing on more.

A clenched fist, and a call for action 

At midday, wearing a black leather glove and clenching his fist, President Trump addresses his supporters at a rally near the White House. Trump tells the crowd he wants his vice president, Mike Pence, to do "the right thing" and refuse to recognise Joe Biden as the election winner.

'Make your voices heard' 

Trump urges his fanbase to march on the Capitol building "to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard" in time for the beginning of the certification process. The crowds, many wearing Make America Great Again caps descend on the Capitol.

Trouble flares, the mob closes in 

 

 

Just after 2pm, the mob breaks through. A protester, wearing a horned hat, climbs scaffolding that was being erected ahead of Mr Biden’s inauguration ceremony, in two weeks time, to gain entry to the Capitol precinct. Police are overwhelmed.

Confederate flags in the Capitol 

By 2.15pm, the mob has gained entry to the building, flooding through smashed windows and breaking through external doors. Waving US and confederate flags, and flags that proclaim 'Trump is President', they rampage through the corridors and along staircases.

Terrified Congressmen runs for cover

In scenes nobody ever thought possible in America, lawmakers in the House Chamber run for cover, dashing from the floor as rioters threaten to break in. Some, such as Republican David Trone, above, were so terrified they pulled on gas masks for fear of a terror attack.

Guns drawn, the standoff begins 

Two police officers in plain clothes draw pistols and aim their weapons at the 'insurrectionists' now trying to smash their way into the House Chamber. Through the broken glass, a Trump supporter is visible, just inches from the barrel of the guns.

In the House gallery, innocent onlookers lie flat and take shelter. Bangs had been heard at this point and one Trump supporter, a woman, has been shot. Trump posts on Twitter at 2.24pm: "Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution."

Barricaded in their offices, staff take cover

Congress staff members barricade themselves into office space, shoving heavy furniture up against the door. Staff members are wearing masks to protect themselves from Covid-19 and teargas fired by police, an easy way to distinguish them from the Trump mob.

Feet up on Nancy Pelosi's desk

Rioters break into the office of Nancy Pelosi, the US House Speaker and bete noire of Trump. Richard Bino Barnett appears to be taking a selfie and not even bothering to disguise his identity.

Insurrection in full flight 

In the Senate Chamber, the insurrection is in full flight. A member of the mob wearing a mask to hide his face and a hood pulled up over his head sits in the chair of the Senate leader Mitch McConnell, a republican senator, who earlier in the day had warned fellow republicans not to attempt to reject the Biden victory.

Hands up as the Swat team swarms the building 

In a three-hour battle, heavily armed police begin to regain control of the Capitol. Rioters are ordered to lie on the floor in a corridor outside the House Chamber. One Congress staff member in suit and tie puts up his hands to avoid being mistaken for a Trump protester as Police Swat teams comb through the building to make it safe.

A shaken Biden urges Trump to stop the siege

At 4pm Joe Biden, clearly shaken and upset, addresses the nation, calling on Trump to "defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege". The president-elect calls the uprising an 'insurrection'.

Trump calls off the dogs 

In response, President Trump posts a pre-taped message on social media, requesting his supporters leave the building. It is full of mixed messages. He tells the rioters he 'loves' them and again repeats the false claim the election was 'stolen' from him.

A chilling warning left on the desk 

ck in Nancy Pelosi’s office, the mob has left a chilling message scrawled on a file. "We will not back down," it says.

Taking back control 

The clean up begins. Andy Kim, a Democrat Congressman, helps in the clear up operation inside the Capitol's rotunda and beneath its famed dome. He is aided by officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, deployed as part of the team to regain control.

Democracy returns 

Work resumes in the process of ratifying the Electoral College votes. Senate staff carry the Electoral College from the Senate Chamber to the House Chamber as part of the normally mundane process of agreeing the next president.

A new dawn, and a new president 

The morning after the night before. In the early hours of Thursday, Vice President Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi read the final certification after working through the night, confirming once and for all that Joe Biden will be the next president. 

Calm, under curfew 

A curfew was imposed overnight, and a state of emergency will remain in place until January 21, to cover the inauguration.