Donald Trump-supporting QAnon conspiracy theorists have been sharing a photo alleging that Greta Thunberg attended the riots on the US Capitol.
A meme circulating online with the caption “nice try, Greta” compares the faces of one of the mob, photographed next to “QAnon shaman” Jake Angeli, with Thunberg’s.
The rioter, who can be seen wearing a Trump cap and holding a Trump flag, has most of the face covered, leading to suggestions the climate activist might have stormed Congress incognito.
But it is far from an uncanny resemblance.
She posted this and is 100% serious and I haven’t stopped laughing. pic.twitter.com/WezaQTJMfv
— Tyler Dinucci (@TylerDinucci) January 15, 2021
Brian Sicknick
Meanwhile it was announced that a police officer who died at the hands of a mob who staged a siege at the US Capitol will lie in honour at the building next week.
Brian Sicknick was on duty when rioters seething over US President Donald Trump’s election loss stormed the building, and was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher.
Congress will hold a ceremonial arrival for Officer Sicknick on Tuesday night, after which a viewing period will be held overnight for members of the Capitol Police.
Politicians will pay tribute on Wednesday morning before a ceremonial departure for Arlington National Cemetery, where he will be interred.
Temple of democracy
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer released a joint statement saying: “The heroism of Officer Sicknick and the Capitol Police force during the violent insurrection against our Capitol helped save lives, defend the temple of our democracy and ensure that the Congress was not diverted from our duty to the Constitution.
“His sacrifice reminds us every day of our obligation to our country and to the people we serve.”
Officer Sicknick, 42, from South River, New Jersey, enlisted in the National Guard six months after graduating high school in 1997, deploying to Saudi Arabia and then Kyrgyzstan, and joined the US Capitol Police in 2008.
In their joint statement, Mrs Pelosi and Mr Schumer added: “On behalf of the House of Representatives and the Senate, it is our great privilege to pay tribute to Officer Sicknick with this lying-in-honour ceremony.
“May this ceremony and the knowledge that so many mourn with and pray for them be a comfort to Officer Sicknick’s family during this sad time.”
Related: Double blow: Brexit Britain locked out of both the EU and major economies