Jewish groups reacted with horror as far right supporters, some bearing antisemitic slogans, stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday as part of the pro-Trump mob's assault on the seat of American democracy.
 
Lawmakers reconvened overnight to formally confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory after rioters halted the Congressional count of electoral college votes in chaotic clashes that led to at least four deaths and 52 arrests.
 
Photos of several far-right figures, Confederate flags, nooses and white supremacist symbols circulated on social media, with a protester pictured in a hoodie marked “Camp Auschwitz” and “work brings freedom”.
 
Conspiracy theorist Tim Gionet - known as Baked Alaska - and QAnon adherent Jake Angeli were pictured at the violent protest. Mr Angeli wore his trademark horned hat as he posed beside the Dais inside the US Senate chamber.Nick Fuentes, a podcaster repeatedly accused of antisemitism and Holocaust denial, was also seen among the crowd outside the building. He once compared Holocaust victims to cookies being baked in an oven in a video in 2019. 
 
President Donald Trump’s social media accounts were locked yesterday after he repeated baseless election fraud claims and expressed his “love” for rioters in a video urging them to go home. 
 
In a statement today, Mr Trump committed to ensuring an “orderly transition” of power but said he disagreed with the “outcome of the election.”
 
Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl said Thursday that “the scenes last night in Washington DC were deeply distressing for all who love America and who love democracy. 
 
“Through his irresponsible rhetoric, President Trump bears a huge measure of responsibility for inciting this mayhem. 
 
“We are pleased that despite the threats, Congress fulfilled the will of the American people and certified Joe Biden as President and Kamala Harris as Vice President. It is time for a peaceful transfer of power.”
 
The Anti-Defamation League said on Wednesday that President Donald Trump had “promoted sedition and incited violence.”
 
“More than anything, what is happening right now at the Capitol is a direct result of the fear and disinformation that has been spewed consistently from the Oval Office,” read a statement from CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. 
 
“President Trump has a responsibility to call for an end to this violence and unrest that he has sowed. His campaign of disinformation is a clear and present danger to our democracy.”

The counter extremism charity Hope Not Hate warned democracy was “under siege from white supremacists and QAnon conspiracy theorists, incited by the President himself.
 
“This moment hasn’t appeared from nowhere but is the culmination of a movement that has rioted from the streets of Charlottesville to the corridors of Congress,” the group added.