Politics Shocking Photos of the Violent Riots at the U.S. Capitol Pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, forcing lawmakers to evacuate in fear as shots were reported inside. Since that day, seven people have died and more than 700 have been arrested. Look back on haunting images from the insurrection. By Amanda K. Retotar and Andrea Wurzburger Updated on January 6, 2022 09:45 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos 01 of 43 Rioters at the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday. Tasos Katopodis/Getty On Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, thousands of Trump voters gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump amid his unfounded claims of election fraud following his November 2020 loss to Joe Biden, as Congress met to certify the votes of the Electoral College. Since that day, seven people have died and more than 700 have been arrested. A House committee is investigating the deadly riots and those involved, and a solemn observance is planned for Jan. 6, 2022. 02 of 43 Rioters outside the U.S. Capitol building. Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Protestors gathered in large numbers as they demonstrated against the results of the presidential election. 03 of 43 U.S. Capitol building breached. Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty The protests soon became riots as demonstrators broke through security fencing outside of the U.S. Capitol. A group of Capitol Hill police officers were met by a large group of protesters as they destroyed security fencing. 04 of 43 JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Pepper spray was fired as Trump supporters clashed with police and security forces as they stormed the Capitol building. 05 of 43 Tasos Katopodis/Getty A man photographed bleeding outside the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC. 06 of 43 ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty A gallows was erected by Trump supporters as others stormed the Capitol building. 07 of 43 JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty There was smoke in the air as rioters clashed with police and security forces. 08 of 43 Rioters outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty A supporter of President Trump stood outside of the Capitol building, holding both Trump and American flags. 09 of 43 Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Demonstrators entered the U.S. Capitol in large numbers after breaching security fencing. 10 of 43 ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Here, police detained one of the rioters as demonstrations continued. 11 of 43 ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Rioters in gas masks stood in front of the Capitol, waving flags. 12 of 43 Pro-Trump rioters scaled the walls of the United States Capitol. 13 of 43 Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Jan. 6. Samuel Corum/Getty Rioters covered the steps of the Capitol building, brandishing flags. 14 of 43 SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty A group of people dressed in Trump paraphernalia entered the Capitol building. The rioters pushed through barriers set up along the perimeter just after 1 p.m. EST. 15 of 43 SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Smoke filled the corridor of the Capitol as rioters breached security. 16 of 43 Win McNamee/Getty Protesters, many of them not wearing masks, clashed with Capitol Police inside the building. 17 of 43 Protesters breaching the U.S. Capitol. Win McNamee/Getty Images) A rioter with a flag that reads, "Trump is my president," on the steps inside the Capitol building, near the Senate Chamber. 18 of 43 Rioters breach Capitol building. Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty A rioter ran through the hall of the Capitol as more breached the building's security. 19 of 43 Pro-Trump rioters breach the U.S. Capitol building. Andrew Harnik/AP/Shutterstock As rioters tried to break into the House Chamber, people in attendance sheltered in the gallery. 20 of 43 Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Reps. Diana DeGette of Colorado (center) and Veronica Escobar of Texas (right) took cover as protesters disrupted the joint session of Congress. 21 of 43 Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania and other members evacuated and took cover as protesters attempted to break into the House Chamber. 22 of 43 Rep. Jason Crow comforts Rep. Susan Wild. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado comforted Rep. Susan Wild of Pennsylvania took cover. 23 of 43 People shelter in the House gallery as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol. Andrew Harnik/AP/Shutterstock People sheltered in the House gallery as protesters tried to break into the House Chamber. 24 of 43 Andrew Harnik/AP/Shutterstock People sheltered in the House gallery as rioters eventually broke into the House Chamber. 25 of 43 Members of Congress evacuate the House Chamber on Wednesday. Drew Angerer/Getty Chairs were left empty and belongings left on seats as members of Congress evacuated the House Chamber. 26 of 43 U.S. Capitol building. Drew Angerer/Getty U.S. Capitol police officers pointed their guns at a barricaded door that was vandalized in the House Chamber. 27 of 43 Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Security officers barricaded the door of the House Chamber as protesters tried to break in. 28 of 43 Win McNamee/Getty The U.S. Capitol was placed under lockdown and Vice President Mike Pence evacuated from the floor of Congress as hundreds of protesters swarmed past barricades surrounding the building. Here, one demonstrator sitting in the Senate Chamber. 29 of 43 Pro-Trump rioters storm the U.S. Senate chamber. Win McNamee/Getty Protesters entered the Senate Chamber gallery, as well. 30 of 43 Pro-Trump rioters inside Nancy Pelosi's office. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty One pro-Trump rioter sat inside the office of United States Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. 31 of 43 U.S. Capitol police officers detain demonstrators outside the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. U.S. Capitol police officers detained some demonstrators outside the House Chamber. 32 of 43 Trump supporters clash with police at the Capitol on Wednesday. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Police in riot gear were pepper-sprayed by pro-Trump rioters as they attempted to breach the building's security. 33 of 43 Win McNamee/Getty One rioter smiled and waved as he carried the podium bearing the seal of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 34 of 43 JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock A pro-Trump rioter held a confederate flag in the Capitol Building. 35 of 43 SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty A rioter in the Capitol, dressed in a bullet-proof vest under his animal pelts and holding a police riot shield. 36 of 43 Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Rioters walked through the Capitol after breaching barricades to the building. 37 of 43 SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty A woman in a Make America Great Again hat used a vape pen while sitting at a desk in the Capitol building. 38 of 43 The U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6. A Capitol police officer looked out of a broken window as protesters gathered at the U.S. Capitol building. 39 of 43 FBI patrols the Longworth House Office. Erin Scott/Bloomberg via Getty Members of the FBI SWAT team patrolled the building after rioters breached the Capitol's security. 40 of 43 Erin Scott/Bloomberg via Getty Members of the FBI SWAT team patrolled the Longworth House Office building, near the Capitol and used by Congress. 41 of 43 U.S. Capitol police officers receive medical treatment on Jan. 6. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Capitol Police officers received medical treatment after being pepper-sprayed by pro-Trump rioters. 42 of 43 J Scott Applewhite/AP/Shutterstock The House Chamber sat empty after all in attendance were evacuated. 43 of 43 Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty The equipment of media crews was smashed and damaged during continued upheaval by pro-Trump rioters in Washington, D.C.