Facebook and Twitter have locked President Donald Trump’s page after his followers stormed the Capitol building in violent scenes leading to four deaths.
The social media giant had earlier removed a video in which Trump addressed his supporters who had clashed with police in Washington DC forcing a lockdown at the US Capitol building.
Four people were confirmed dead, including one female Trump supporter who was fatally shot by police.
Facebook said in a statement posted on Twitter: ‘We’ve assessed two policy violations against President Trump’s Page which will result in a 24-hour feature block, meaning he will lose the ability to post on the platform during that time.’
The platform earlier removed a video in which Mr Trump addressed his supporters who had clashed with police in Washington DC forcing a lockdown at the US Capitol building.
Facebook’s vice president of integrity Guy Rosen, tweeted: ‘This is an emergency situation and we are taking appropriate emergency measures, including removing President Trump’s video.’
‘We removed it because on balance we believe it contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence.’
In chaotic scenes, supporters of Mr Trump breached barricades and staged an occupation of the building in Washington DC to interrupt politicians’ formal approval of Joe Biden’s presidential election win.
Twitter subsequently locked Mr Trump’s account for the first time and demanded he remove tweets excusing violence as it threatened him with ‘permanent suspension’ from the platform.
More follows…
US Capitol riots
A large group of Donald Trump supporters have stormed the US Capitol building to try and stop Joe Biden being certified as the next president.
Here are some of the main updates from the evening of January 6:
- Trump supporters storm US Capitol to try and stop Joe Biden being named next president
- Mike Pence rushed to secure location as he calls for end of rioting
- Woman ‘shot in the neck’ as Trump supporters storm Capitol building
- Donald Trump sends self-pitying video asking ‘very special’ protesters to ‘go home’
- US representatives draw up plans to impeach and oust Donald Trump
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