A Play-By-Play Of How The Trump Mob Got Into The Capitol
A timeline of Wednesday’s chaos at the Capitol using maps, tweets, and photographs.
The US Capitol building in Washington, DC, was overrun on Wednesday by a mob of insurrectionists incited by President Donald Trump.
The violent scenes unfolded on live television and social media, where people were inundated with shocking images of the seat of the US government overrun by people trying to stage a coup.
Here, BuzzFeed News has attempted to sort through some of the chaos by using maps, tweets, and photographs to show how and where the intruders gained entry to the Capitol — and what they did when they were inside.
1:10 p.m.: Trump finishes speaking but supporters are already moving from the White House Ellipse to the Capitol
White House
Site of rally
US Capitol
Route rally
attendees
took to Capitol
Republican
National
Committee
Pipe bombs found
by Capitol Police
Democratic National
Committee
N
1:10 p.m.: Trump finishes speaking, but supporters are already moving from the White House Ellipse to the Capitol
Approximately 1:15 p.m.: Mob pushes down barricades on Capitol grounds
IMPORTANT: this is exact moment the siege of the Capitol building began as the two men in front ripped down a preliminary barrier & rushed officers who were behind a 2nd barrier They then encouraged others to follow their lead. Officers appeared to be taken completely off guard
Mob occupies space set up for Biden inauguration
Rioters gather on the west side of the Capitol building.
How the mob accessed the Capitol
A separate group of rioters push past barricades and
enter building
Rioters use a window-cleaning platform to gain access to the
third floor
Police appear to lift barricades, allowing rioters to enter Capitol grounds
Barricades
Barricades
Scaffolding for
Inauguration Day
Scaffolding for
Inauguration Day
At approximately 1:15 p.m., rioters
knock over barricades and overwhelm police officers
Rioters use barricades to
climb walls
Rioters tear
down fencing
Barricades
N
How the mob accessed the Capitol
Rioters breach the Capitol building
N
US Capitol building
Second Floor
Rioters break into
Pelosi’s office, sit at
a desk, steal mail, and leave
a threatening note
Rioters infiltrate the
Senate chamber, sit at the dais,
and climb to the mezzanine
Speaker’s
Office
2:43 p.m.:
US Capitol Police
barricade the door
to House chamber
with guns drawn
National
Statuary
Hall
Senate
Chamber
capitol
Rotunda
old
senate
chamber
Hall of the
House of
Representatives
3:07 p.m.: Rioters breach
main door, joining other invaders
in the rotunda, taking selfies
and causing destruction
3:01 p.m.: First report that
Ashli Babbitt was shot
by US Capitol Police
Rioters break
down door
Rioters breach the Capitol
2:13 p.m.
Sen. James Lankford, Republican of Oklahoma, is told “protesters are in the building” as he delivers a speech objecting to Biden electors.
Approximately 2:30 p.m.
Rioters enter the US Capitol’s rotunda.
2:38 p.m.
Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!
Approximately 2:40 p.m.
Capitol Police and security officials block the entrance to the House chamber.
Approximately 2:50 p.m.
A rioter sits at the dais in the Senate chamber.
Approximately 3:10 p.m.
Rioters breach the main eastern door of the Capitol building and stream into the rotunda.
3:33 p.m.
An officer quakes in fear as the crowd rushes past, pushing officers against the wall inside the U.S. Capitol Building #January6th #DC #WashingtonDC #WildProtest
3:38 p.m.
Montgomery County Police are moving in on the front side of the US Capitol Building.
DC Metropolitan Police hold a line against the crowd on the Capitol steps
Approximately 4:40 p.m.
Trump supporters stand on a DC Metropolitan Police armored vehicle as others take over the eastern steps of the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Approximately 5:30 p.m.
Congressional staffers hold up their hands while Capitol Police SWAT teams check everyone in the room as they secure the floor on Jan. 6.
Approximately 5:30 p.m.
Police use tear gas to clear rioters from the terrace on the west side of the Capitol on Jan. 6.
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Ben King is the Art Director for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York.
Contact Ben King at ben.king@buzzfeed.com.
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Claudia Koerner is an editor and reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in Los Angeles.
Contact Claudia Koerner at claudia.koerner@buzzfeed.com.