CAPTURE OF THE CAPITOL AS AN ACT OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Abstract

Among all types of modern terrorism, there is a complex and threatening type of domestic terrorism. First and foremost, it involves life-threatening acts that violate the criminal laws of the United States or any state, are intended to intimidate or coerce civilians, influence government policy through intimidation or coercion, or influence government behaviour through mass destruction, murder or kidnapping, and occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States. An example of this is the events of 6 January 2021, when, following the defeat of US President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, a crowd of his supporters attacked the US Capitol building in Washington, DC. The crowd was trying to keep Trump in power by preventing a joint session of Congress from counting the electoral college votes to formalise the victory of President-elect Joe Biden. According to a special House committee investigating the incident, the attack was the culmination of Trump’s seven-part plan to cancel the election. This is the first time the Capitol has fallen since it was captured by British troops in 1814. These processes raise awareness of the importance of protecting national interests and preventing attacks on the country’s national security.