Officials have confirmed that five individuals died, 52 were arrested and 14 DC police officers were injured during Wednesday’s riots by supporters of President Donald Trump at the US Capitol.
Among the deceased is a Capital police officer and a woman who was shot by US Capitol Police inside the building while a group of demonstrators tried to break into the House chamber. She has not been identified yet.
Three others, two men and one woman, reportedly died due to various health-related issues, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
DC’s Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a curfew from 6 pm Wednesday to 6 am, and issued an order extending the public emergency until January 21.
Today, I'm ordering a citywide curfew for the District of Columbia from 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6, until 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 7. pic.twitter.com/lp6Pt3DcYC
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) January 6, 2021
A statement from Mayor Bowser’s office said:
“Today, First Amendment protests turned violent. Many persons came to the District armed and for the purpose of engaging in violence and destruction and have engaged in violence and destruction. They have fired chemical irritants, bricks, bottles, and guns. They have breached the security of the Capitol and their destructive and riotous behavior has the potential to spread beyond the Capitol. Their motivation is ongoing. Today, they sought to disrupt the Congressional proceedings relating to the acceptance of electoral college votes. President Trump continues to fan rage and violence by contending that the Presidential election was invalid. Persons are dissatisfied with judicial rulings and the findings of State Boards of Elections, and some persons can be expected to continue their violent protests through the inauguration.”
The mayor also announced that public COVID-19 testing sites would be closed on Wednesday evening.
DC Police Chief Robert Contee told the media that the police were able to contain the situation, and that arrests were going on. He said that 14 MPD officers have been injured. One of the officers was wounded in the face after he was hit by a projectile.