Thread by @ErinBanco

I've covered wars oversees. I lived in Cairo during the revolution and the aftermath. Watching what happened today at the Capitol was eerily familiar to scenes I've seen take place across the world. I want to lay out a very rough timeline here from my reporting today. Thread.

Reflecting back on the last several hours it's remarkable how long it took to get the situation even somewhat under control at the Capitol

As the day started there were Capitol police on site. There were also about 300 or so NG deployed in the area to help with “security” —basically at checkpoints/manning the area.

Pence arrived at the Capitol around 12:45 or 1. A statement comes out around 12:55 that Pence will not try and block the Biden’s electors. Crowds started to grow a little bigger in front of the steps.

Around 1 o’clock or so reports start to break that people have started to break through the barriers at the Capitol. Things start to escalate pretty quickly. Clashes break out between the mob and Capitol police.

A little after 1, maybe 1:15 Hill staffers are told to evacuate the building. People also evacuate from Cannon. McConnell makes his floor speech.

1:30 I make a call to the NG, DOD, Metro Police, etc. No one can tell me what’s going on or if the NG had been activated to an LE capacity or if there would be a change of mission. No one knew who was in control

Reports of pipe bomb investigations emerge. People make their way all the way up onto the steps and the inauguration risers around 2. Pence is swiftly taken out of the Senate chamber by Secret Service. On CSPAN, there’s a chaotic seen that takes place in the Senate chamber.

It's around this time they stop the session. That’s when the whole building goes on lockdown (about). 2ish

The mob starts banging on the doors of the Capitol. Around 2:15 or so the mob reaches the Senate chamber.

2:25 I am told that the Mayor of DC has made a request to the Sec of the Army to activate the NG and do a change of mission for the 300 that are already activated

2:30 I’m told they are STILL considering that request at the office of the Sec of the Army.

2:38: Trump makes a plea to supporters to safeguard law enforcement. At this point members are STILL being moved to those undisclosed locations. On the House floor they are asked to put on gas masks and take cover. This is after the mob has already breached the barricades

2:55 a report circulates that the Army has denied the Mayor’s NG request. Not true. There were still convos underway between the mayor’s office, the Pentagon, DOJ, top house and sen members and VP Pence about what to do with the NG and LE at the Capitol.

Right before the 3 p.m. hour a shooting at the Capitol is reported and multiple officers are reported injured.

3:20 ish Biden makes his speech

3:30 or so I talk to a source that says the DC NG WILL be activated later on today, almost in its entirety (basically anyone available). The mob is still inside the building. In the chamber. Taking photos. Walking around with Confederate flags. They are everywhere on the complex

3:45 or so the Pentagon finally says the DC NG has been activated and that DOJ will be overseeing all law enforcement activity. This is more than 2.5 hours after the mob breached the barricades. (VA NG is already announced)

4:17 Trump finally tells his supporters to go home. This is around the time the FBI arrives on the scene with other NG troops from VA and other jurisdictions. USMS also says they will be responding.

430 p.m.-5 p.m. People still wandering Capitol complex. Still in the buildings.

5:30: Crowd begins to dissipate. But still flash grenades echo on the front steps of the Capitol.

The barricades went down around 1. FOUR HOURS LATER there are still people in the Capitol wandering around.

And to those of you who say, "this is nothing like a war!", DUH. This isn't a war! But it IS a massive security failure.