Rioting protesters stormed the US Capitol building last night, with shots fired inside.

Extraordinary scenes saw President Donald Trump issue a restrained call for peace after his supporters rushed past police into the Capitol, interrupting the confirmation of presidentelect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory.

Angry supporters of President Donald Trump have stormed the US Capitol in a chaotic protest aimed at thwarting a peaceful transfer of power.

The attack forced politicians to rush from the building and interrupted challenges to Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory.

President Trump issued a restrained call for peace well after the protest was under way but did not urge supporters to disperse.

Earlier he had seemingly egged them on to march to Capitol Hill.

Yesterday’s ordinarily mundane procedure of Congress certifying a new president was always going to be extraordinary, with Republican supporters of Mr Trump vowing to protest over the results of an election that they have baselessly insisted was reversed by fraud.

But even the unusual deliberations, which included the Republican vice-president and Senate majority leader defying Mr Trump’s demands, were quickly overtaken.

In a raucous, out- ofcontrol scene, protesters fought past police and breached the building , shouting and waving Trump and American flags as they marched through the halls.

One person was reportedly shot at the Capitol. T hat person’s condition was unknown.

The protesters abruptly interrupted the congressional proceedings in an eerie scene that featured official warnings directing people to duck under their seats for cover and put on gas masks after tear gas was used in the Capitol Rotunda.

With the crowds showing no signs of abating, President Trump tweeted: “Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!”

Earlier, at his rally, he had urged supporters to march to the Capitol.

Senators were being evacuated. Some House politicians tweeted they were sheltering in their offices.

Demonstrators fought with police and then forced their way into the building, not long after a huge rally near the White House during which Trump urged them to march to Capitol Hill.

Politicians had convened for an extraordinary joint session to confirm the Electoral College results.

Though fellow Republicans were behind the challenge to Biden’s 306-232 Electoral College victory, Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell sought to lower tensions and argued against it.

He warned the country “cannot keep drifting apart into two separate tribes”.

Mr Mcconnell declared: “The voters, the courts and the states all have spoken.”

The last-gasp effort is all but certain to fail, defeated by bipartisan majorities in Congress prepared to accept the November results. Mr Biden is to be inaugurated on January 20.

Vice-president Mike Pence was closely watched as he stepped on to the dais to preside over the joint session in the House chamber.

But he was under growing pressure from Trump to overturn the will of the voters and tip the results in the president’s favour, despite having no legal power to affect the outcome.

“Do it Mike, this is a time for extreme courage!” Mr Trump tweeted.

But Mr Pence defied Mr Trump.

CHAOS: Clockwise, from left: Police draw their guns at the Capitol, a demonstrator struggles with police, and Trump supporters make their feelings known.

Trump supporters at his rally earlier in the day.