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From: Emma Lovén Svensson
Published:
Updated:
WASHINGTON. There was violence between supporters of Donald Trump and the counter-protesters who gathered in the US capital last night.
Outside a hotel, police were forced to enter and protect Trump supporters, and a few blocks from the White House they clashed left and right phalanxes.
“We own these streets,” the anti-Trump protesters shouted when the groups gathered.
Thousands of Trump supporters marched through the US capital on Saturday to show their support for President Donald Trump and express their discontent over the alleged electoral fraud, something that has not yet been proven and is dismissed by experts.
After much of Saturday passed calmly, the atmosphere became even more uncomfortable after dark as the demonstrations dissipated and hundreds of people mobilized through the streets.
Photo: Pontus Höök
Supporters of the offer support the finger of Trump supporters outside a hotel.
Photo: Pontus Höök
A Trump supporter and his son are escorted by police after being surrounded by Biden supporters.
Fights outside the hotels
Outside a hotel in Black Lives Matter Plaza, at 7 p.m. local time, police were forced to intervene to protect Trump supporters from black-clad counter-protesters threatening and surrounding returning protesters on the street. The counter-protesters also burned Trump flags and destroyed a gray car that was parked outside the hotel while Aftonbladet was at the scene.
The incident drew people from both groups and the police formed a chain to keep them apart. For several hours, the two groups stood up and yelled at each other, with occasional clashes that were interrupted by the police.
– UNITED STATES! UNITED STATES! UNITED STATES! yelled the clumsy Trump supporters gathered outside the hotel.
“We own these streets,” the counter-protesters responded.
Photo: Emma Lovén Svensson
Proud Boys sprayed with tear gas.
Photo: Pontus Höök
Trump supporters hack into Biden supporters outside a hotel.
A man stabbed
A few blocks east of the White House, Trump supporters armed with batons gathered overnight. Among them were members of the far-right group Proud Boys, who wore military green bulletproof vests.
At around 8 p.m. local time, they clashed with a group of anti-Trump protesters. Among those protesters were people who participated in the violent riots in Washington in the early summer, according to the Washington Post.
In connection with the confrontation, a man who was taken to the hospital by ambulance was stabbed. According to the rescue service, the man’s condition is critical, but they did not want to provide further information at this time. It is not yet clear which group the man belonged to.
According to Fox DC, local police arrested ten people suspected of, among other things, gun law violations, assault and violence against police. It is unknown which side the detainees belong to, but police announce that more information will be released on Sunday.
Much of Washington has been closed to automobile traffic for all of Saturday. Helicopters have circled over the White House and the Supreme Court, and hundreds of police officers have been working through the night. Several of them have drawn pistols with rubber bullets and sprayed tear gas at those who did not obey orders.
Photo: Emma Lovén Svensson
Fight in front of a hotel in Washington DC.
Photo: Pontus Höök
A Biden supporter forces a police officer to put on the mouth guard.
Trump greeted protesters
During the day, President Donald Trump drew attention to the demonstrations by sharing videos on Twitter. At lunchtime, the president also passed protesters who had gathered at Freedom Plaza to greet his supporters, who had gathered by the thousands at the scene.
A week has passed since the US media declared Joe Biden the winner of the US presidential election. Trump has persistently claimed that he himself is the rightful winner and that Biden’s victory is the result of electoral fraud, an accusation for which he has produced no proof.
At a press conference on Friday, however, he said “time will tell” who will run the country after January 20, which has been interpreted by many as beginning to accept the idea of a power shift.
Election observers, invited by Trump and his staff, presented a first report Monday on any deviations during the election, showing that no irregularities have been found.
Photo: Pontus Höök
A woman takes refuge behind the police as Trump supporters pass by.
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