The Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, famous for busting mob families and foreign terror groups, has launched a worldwide dragnet for the “terrorists” who stormed the U.S. Capitol.
The federal agency today (Jan. 8) release more than 40 photos mostly of people with their faces clearly exposed, who were photographed in the Capitol.
The perpetrators are wanted for making “unlawful entry into U.S. Capitol Building” and possibly other crimes, including vandalism, destruction of property and assault.
On top of destruction and theft, suspected explosives devices were also found at the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic headquarters a few blocks away.
Those who witnessed any unlawful violent actions at the Capitol or near the area, are asked to contact the FBI’s Toll-Free Tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) to verbally report tips.
Witnesses may also submit any information, photos, or videos that could be relevant online at fbi.gov/USCapitol.
Witnesses may also contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.
The storming of the Capitol by insurgents, the first time since the War of 1812, evolved out of a rally called by President Donald Trump to protest his false claims the election was marred by fraud.
The president, family members Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump and his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani gave inflammatory speeches and urging followers to storm the Capitol.
“Yesterday’s events did not happen in a vacuum. The path was paved by months of lies and wild conspiracy theories by President Trump, his family and closest associates, and Members of Congress,” New York Attorney General Letitia James charged in a letter to the Justice Department.
“Immediately before the mob stormed the Capitol, President Trump made his wishes explicit, telling an angry crowd: ‘You’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong,’” James said in a statement.
Donald Trump Jr. told the mob: “This gathering should send a message,” while simultaneously warning members of Congress who did not back the pro-Trump efforts that “We’re coming for you.”
Eric Trump told the rioters: “We need to march on the Capitol today. And we need to stand up for this country;”
Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, called for insurrectionists to partake in “trial by combat.”
Hundreds, and possibly thousands of his followers marched on the Capitol, broke down barriers, beat back a thin line of Capitol Police and flooded into the building.
Lawmakers and Vice-President Mike Pence were inside at the time certifying electoral college votes under protest by Republican lawmakers.
They were forced to go into hiding or barricade themselves in the House chamber. One rioter was shot and killed trying to break into the House Chamber.
The crowd lingered for hours, destroyed property, invaded offices, and stole items until police reinforcements could clear the building and the grounds.
Today, arrests were being made across the country.
A MAGA rioter Richard Barnett, 60, whose photo went viral sitting in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office with his feet on her desk, was arrested in Little Rock, Ark., according to various reports.
Barnett is a self-avowed “white nationalist,” who make up a large part of Trump’s base.
Lonnie Coffman, 70, who carried 11 Molotov cocktails, two handguns and an assault rifle to the Capitol was also arrested along with 15 other high-risk targets.
In all, more than 80 people have been arrested and 55 others have been identified and are being pursued on federal charges, officials said on a press call.
FBI is seeking dozens of others who have yet to be identified and made a public appeal for help today.
#BREAKING WV Delegate Derrick Evans has been taken into federal custody.
He’s charged after allegedly entering a restricted area of the US Capitol with rioters Wednesday.
A woman saying he was his grandmother came out telling us to leave as he was put in a car. #WSAZ pic.twitter.com/wK2RqFcaF7
— Chad Hedrick (@WSAZChadHedrick) January 8, 2021
Included in that list is the suspect who struck Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick, 42, with a fire extinguisher. He died later in the hospital.
‘This is an ongoing investigation we’re working this with our partners to ascertain what happened in that situation.
‘We are 100 percent on it and are getting to those answers,’ FBI Washington Field Office ADIC Steven D’antuono said.
Check out the photos.