Vivid retelling brings horror of January 6 back to scene of the crime

Sandra Garza, partner of Brian Sicknick and Serena Liebengood, widow of US Capitol police officer Howie Liebengood cry as Erin Smith, widow of DC police officer Jeffrey Smith and former Washington police officer Harry Dunn look on, Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

It was too much to take. Too much for a second time.

As the cavernous room filled with ugly cries and chants, police radio pleas for help, images of a human herd driven by a crazed impulse to beat police, smash windows and storm the US Capitol, survivors of that day held hands and wept.