Congress’ Electoral Faculty Tally: Stay Updates : NPR

Trump supporters attempt to break by way of a police barrier throughout protests on the U.S. Capitol in the present day, prompting U.S. Capitol Police to take additional safety measures.

Julio Cortez/AP

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Julio Cortez/AP

Trump supporters attempt to break by way of a police barrier throughout protests on the U.S. Capitol in the present day, prompting U.S. Capitol Police to take additional safety measures.

Julio Cortez/AP

U.S. Capitol Police have locked down all buildings throughout the U.S. Capitol advanced as far-right demonstrations conflict with police within the space.

“On account of an exterior safety menace situated on the West Entrance of the U.S. Capitol Constructing, no entry or exit is permitted at the moment,” the police stated in an announcement. “It’s possible you’ll transfer all through the constructing(s) however avoid exterior home windows and doorways. If you’re outdoors, search cowl.”

Each the U.S. Senate and Home went into recess because of the lockdown.

Capitol Police had beforehand issued security steerage to employees in a number of federal buildings.

Alerts citing police exercise have been despatched to people within the Cannon Home Workplace Constructing and the Library of Congress’ James Madison Memorial Constructing.

People in Cannon had been initially informed to evacuate as nicely however had been later instructed to remain within the constructing, in accordance with current e-mail updates from Capitol Police. The evacuation discover has since been cleared.

Workers contained in the Library of Congress had been additionally informed to exit the constructing and stay calm, in accordance with reporting from Politico.

This comes as 1000’s of pro-Trump and far-right protesters have congregated in downtown D.C. to contest the outcomes of the presidential election.

Teams of protests have broken down barriers initially positioned close to the Capitol constructing and at the moment are engaged in altercations with police. Lawmakers have begun acknowledging the escalating violence.

Congress has begun the method of formally recognizing the outcomes of the presidential election. The method has been delayed for a number of hours after a number of Republican members challenged the leads to Arizona, a transfer they’re anticipated to do with a number of states.

In an deal with to protesters noon on Wednesday, President Trump repeatedly denied the outcomes of the election, claiming with out proof that it was rigged in opposition to his marketing campaign.

NPR’s Kelsey Snell contributed to this report.