Trump supporters smash Associated Press cameras while chanting 'CNN sucks' during Capitol riots

Trump supporters gathered in a circle around the equipment after chasing off a news camera crew

A group of Trump loyalist protesters attacked an Associated Press crew today during their storming of the US Capitol building in Washington DC.  

A video shows a group of Trump supporters surrounding an AP news crew and vandalizing their equipment.  

One man, wearing an American flag around his neck, can be seen heaving camera equipment into the air and smashing it onto a pile of the seized equipment.  

In another video, a crowd chants "CNN sucks!" as others smash equipment that was owned by the AP.

The attacks on the media are the latest destructive acts carried out by Mr Trump’s supporters. 

Earlier in the day Mr Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol, clashing with Capitol police forces. 

DC Metro Police Chief Robert Contee said Trump supporters were using “irritants” - likely pepper spray or a similar product - against Capitol police. 

The Trump supporters eventually pushed their way through law enforcement and entered the Capitol, which prompted a lockdown. 

Congressional members, Capitol staff and media members were evacuated from the building by the Capitol police. 

Eventually the rioters penetrated into the building’s central chambers and posed to take photos inside the offices of Congressional members and on the floor of the legislative chambers. 

After the initial rush into the Capitol, the National Guard in Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC were activated and sent to assist the Capitol and DC Metro police. 

Joe Biden addressed the nation after the initial rush of rioters flooded the Capitol and called on Mr Trump to go on national television and to tell his supporters to go home. 

Shortly after, Mr Trump posted a video to Twitter calling on his supporters to go home.

“We have to have peace. We have to have law and order. We have to respect our great people in law and order. We don’t want anybody hurt. It’s a very tough period of time, there’s never been a time like this where such a thing happened, where they could take it away from all of us. From me, from you, from our country. This was a fraudulent election, but we can’t play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace," Mr Trump said in the video. "So go home, we love you, you’re very special. You’ve seen what happens, you’ve seen the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel, but go home and go home in peace.”

Mr Trump also repeated his claims that the election was stolen during his video address. Twitter eventually stopped users from replying or retweeting the video. 

The Associated Press reported that law enforcement secured the Capitol shortly before 6pm.