Smoke filled the walkway outside the Senate Chamber as supporters of President Donald Trump were confronted by police
Credit: AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
A British photographer who was in the room when police shot dead a rioter inside the Capitol building says he is still processing the seismic events of Wednesday afternoon.
Adam Gray, originally from Wakefield, said that the attempted coup in Washington was the most significant event he has ever covered and described how he saw 35-year-old Ashli Babbitt lying on the floor as police tried to save her life.
“This is the type of thing you see on the news in Bolivia, people storming the Capitol building, not the United States,” said the 34-year-old, who has been in the US for three years.
Mr Gray arrived early on Wednesday setting himself up opposite the White House to take pictures of President Trump’s speech.
But word started spreading through the crowd of thousands of supporters that there would be a splinter protest outside the Capitol building and there would be an attempt to storm it.
Capitol Map
“I did the first part of Trump’s speech and went up to the Capitol building waiting for the crowd to come up because I knew I’d have to be at the front if they tried to get in,” he said.
“Then a big crowd turned up, which seemed to include some of the Proud Boys group.”
Quickly, people burst through the crowd control fences, guarded by only 20 or so police officers.
“They were not ready at all,” said Mr Gray.
“Then they decided to rush it and jumped over the first fence, up to the entrance and to the door where they were having battles with the cops.”
Mr Gray moved to the East side of the building where rioters were also trying to break in.
“We had to be quick. I was in with the first wave of people. I was wearing goggles and was expecting to be MACEd when we got in, but the police were very good with me, because I had press credentials.”
But then things turned sour.
“The rioters were still trying to get round and into the Senate so they were walking through corridors and trying to smash through doors and windows.
“I was at the back of the room where Ashli Babbitt was shot.
Ashli Babbit
“I heard a bang, which I thought was a flash bang or stun grenade but quickly someone shouted ‘she’s been shot’.
“I forced my way to the front and looked down to see the girl on the floor. The policeman in tactical gear had his hands pressuring the top of her chest, near her neck but she was in a bad way.
“The police were quite calm and there were lots of people trying to tend to her. We all moved back to give them space and they carried her down the stairs and out. People around were saying she was dead.”
Within five minutes, the rioters, and Mr Gray, were pushed back and out of the building.
“I’m still processing it. This is the type of thing you see on the news in Bolivia, people storming the Capitol building, not the United States.”
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