As the men and women of America's Congress met to certify Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States, violence flared at the US Capitol - the heart of the nation's government.

Five people died and dozens were arrested after hundreds stormed into one of the world's most revered vanguards of democracy.

This is the story of that day:

11am ET

Thousands of pro-Trump supporters are gathered close to the White House. They've flown in from around the US.

They are in Washington DC because they support an outgoing president who has refused to accept the people have spoken and he lost November's election.

11.50am ET

The man they've come to see arrives. Mr Trump addresses his Save America rally in the Ellipse, just south of the White House.

The crowd stretches back to the area around the Washington Monument.

During his speech, Mr Trump tells the crowd to march on the Capitol, the US parliamentary building which is the seat of the House of Representatives and Senate.

Mr Trump tells them: "We're going to walk down to the Capitol."

1.10pm ET

They head along two main routes - converging on the building where the Senate is moving to formalise President-elect Joe Biden's victory. 

1.30pm ET

About 20 minutes later hundreds are arriving outside.

They converge on two sides.

On the east side, there's been what they called a "Save The Republic rally" - now it turns its attention towards the building.

Protesters swarm towards the barriers, pushing through them.

Back on the west side there's been a bomb threat. But the crowd grows.

And the pro-Trump rioters breach another security barricade - occupying the podium where Joe Biden's inauguration is due to take place in just two weeks' time.

The police try to push back protesters, using teargas and pepper spray.

A crowd rushes towards the building and smashes a window.

2.25pm ET

On the east side, the demonstrators go past the guards trying to hold them back and push into the Capitol itself.

2.35pm ET

Those inside press on, breaching one of the pillars of US democracy, making it to the rotunda area.

Federal agents take no chances and move Vice President Mike Pence out and to a secure location.

2.45pm ET

The rioters are in the Capitol's Statuary Hall and invade the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Politicians are sheltering in their offices.

Five minutes later, a group make it to the doors of the House chamber as agents draw their guns inside.

Politicians are led to safety.

2.59pm ET

The Senate chamber of the United States of America is taken over.

Crowds continue to roam the corridors of the Capitol for another two hours.

3.21pm ET

Media reports emerge of a shooting in the Speaker's Lobby, in front of the House chamber. A woman, later identified as Ashli Babbitt, is taken to hospital where she dies.

Pictures that emerge some hours later show the woman being given urgent medical attention on the floor.

During the afternoon, another four people die, three protesters after "medical emergencies" and a police officer who got hit on the head by a fire extinguisher.

Extra agents are drafted in.

3.53pm ET

Reports emerge that an explosive device has been found at the nearby headquarters of the Republican Party.

Later, the FBI says another device was found at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. Both were pipe bombs.

It's more than an hour before police say they've cleared Trump supporters from the steps of the Capitol.

5.36pm ET

Officials say the US Capitol building is finally secure after four hours of mayhem - during which the US democratic system came under attack from some of its own people.

Credits:

Digital production: Philip Whiteside

Production: Adam Parker, Victoria Elms, Jamie Roberton

Graphics: Pippa Oakley, Stacey Drake, Harry Ward, Frederick-martins Idahosa

The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.