Senator Jeff Merkley says that despite the pro-Trump mob storming the Capitol building, officials managed to keep the electoral college ballots safe.

“Electoral college ballots rescued from the Senate floor. If our capable floor staff hadn’t grabbed them, they would have been burned by the mob,” said Mr Merkley.

New Jersey’s governor says he is sending state police officers to Washington DC and will deploy the National Guard if asked.

“At the request of DC officials, I am deploying the @NJSP to the District of Columbia to facilitate the peaceful transition of power & protect our democracy,” tweeted Phil Murphy.

“We are prepared to deploy the@NJNationalGuard upon request. May God Bless America and our brave men and women in uniform.”

“The US Capitol was breached today for the first time since 1814, when the British attacked it and set it on fire during the war of 1812, according to the director of scholarship and operations with the U.S. Capitol Historical Society. How shameful,” tweeted CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.

Arizona QAnon supporter Jake Angeli was among the right-wing mob of rioters who stormed the US Capitol.

Bare-chested Angeli, wearing  a horned helmet, was photographed inside the Capitol Building as the pro-Trump group disrupted the certification of the electoral college vote.

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar says she is “drawing up articles of impeachment” for Donald Trump.

The lawmaker, who has been a regular target of the outgoing president and his supporters, says Mr Trump should be “removed” from office immediately.

“Donald J Trump should be impeached by the House of Representatives & removed from office by the United States Senate,” Ms Omar tweeted after pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol Building.

“We can’t allow him to remain in office, it’s a matter of preserving our Republic and we need to fulfill our oath.”

British prime minister took to Twitter to condemn the violent scenes by supporters of Donald Trump in Washington DC.

“Disgraceful scenes in US Congress. The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power,” tweeted Mr Johnson.

Donald Trump has urged the rioters who stormed the US Capitol building to “go home in peace”, even as he repeated false claims about the election he lost.

Several hours after he spoke before supporters close to the National Mall, saying that “we will never concede – it doesn’t happen” – he posted a video message in which he urged people to leave the buildings they had occupied and respect the law enforcement officers.

“You have to go home now. We have to have peace. We have to have law and order,” he said.

Andrew Buncombe has more below:

As violent protesters remained inside the Capitol building, Donald Trump’s top spokeswoman claimed National Guard forces were being deployed to help restore order.

“At President @realDonaldTrump’s direction, the National Guard is on the way along with other federal protective services,” press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweeted. “We reiterate President Trump’s call against violence and to remain peaceful.”

John T Bennett has more below: 

Ivanka Trump has deleted a tweet in which she referred to the president’s supporters violently rioting at the US Capitol building as “patriots”.

On Wednesday, as pro-Trump rioters broke through security barricades and clashed with police to enter the Capitol building in an effort to reject president-elect Joe Biden’s win, the president’s daughter tweeted: “American Patriots – any security breach or disrespect to our law enforcement is unacceptable.

Chelsea Ritschel has more below:

“At their best, the words of a president can inspire, at their worst, they can incite,” said the president-elect from Delaware.

“I call on President Trump to go on national television now to fulfill his oath and defend the constitution and demand an end to this siege”