Both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate abruptly went into a temporary recess on Wednesday amid the Electoral College certification process after supporters of US President Donald Trump breached security barricades and entered the grounds of the Capitol building.
Video footage of the incident has emerged on social media showing protesters entering the Capitol building.
Additional recordings also shows protesters chanting "USA" and pro-Trump messages as others are seen breaking windows of the Capitol.
Reporters on the scene have indicated that protesters have reached the Capitol Rotunda, and that individuals have continued their aggression against Capitol Police. The situation reportedly appears to have prompted law enforcement officials to deploy tear gas.
With the Capitol under lockdown, many lawmakers were urged to shelter in place and keep their gas masks in hand before being evacuated from the grounds.
Recordings from inside the chamber showed lawmakers blocking entrances with furniture amid alleged reports of "shots fired." Police can be seen with firearms drawn before leaving the grounds to escort lawmakers to safety.
Shortly after, protesters managed to get inside onto the House floor. Elsewhere, a group of protesters also managed to get inside the Senate chamber. One protesters was reportedly yelling "Trump won that election."
Moments before protesters managed to storm the building, Republican congressional members initiated the very first challenge of the Electoral College results when Arizona's count was called by Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Each chamber was in the middle of debating the objection when reports first emerged of protesting breaking past security barricades.
Earlier in the day, Trump riled up supporters at a Washington, DC, rally where he vowed to "never" concede the election. Since the event, the commander-in-chief changed his boisterous tone in exchange for calling his supporters to protest peacefully.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who is leading the call to challenge the vote certification, also joined in on Trump's pleading, telling protesters that "those storming the Capitol need to stop now" as the act is "hurting the cause they say they support."
The storming of the Capitol has prompted the city to be placed under a curfew, which will take effect at 6 p.m. local time.