Protesters shot and stabbed in bloody clashes around the United States

Violent clashes between pro-Donald Trump protesters and Black Lives Matter supporters on both sides of the country ended in bloodshed on Saturday.  

In Washington, D.C., four people were stabbed as violence escalated Saturday night following protests during the day.  The president's supporters, including the far-right Proud Boys, had gathered in the afternoon to denounce the results of the 2020 election -- baselessly decried as fraudulent for weeks by Trump.

Meanwhile, across the country in Olympia, Washington, a person was shot during similar protests on Saturday.  One person was taken into custody there.

The Washington, D.C., Fire Department and EMS confirmed to ABC News that as of 7 p.m. Saturday, at least nine patients -- including four stabbing victims -- were transported to area hospitals with injuries connected to demonstrations in the District.

The stabbings took place in the area about four blocks west of the White House.  All four patients are in critical condition, officials said.  In addition, the D.C. mayor's office said at least 23 people have been arrested as of 9 p.m. Saturday night.

Those arrests included 10 for simple assault, six for assaults on a police officer, four for riotous acts, two for crossing a police line and one for possession of a prohibited weapon (a stun gun).

Thousands of people had gathered earlier in the day to support the president, even as courts across the country continue to toss out election-related suits, admonishing Trump's lawyers for a lack of evidence of the fraud as he has repeatedly claimed.  The U.S. Supreme Court denied a lawsuit the president had claimed was "perhaps the most important case in history" on Friday.

Among the supporters of Trump appearing with protesters Saturday were Michael Flynn, the president's former national security adviser, and Roger Stone, a longtime friend and adviser.  Flynn was recently pardoned by the president while Stone's conviction for lying to the House Intelligence Committee was commuted by Trump.

One person was shot and another was detained during violent protests in Olympia, Washington on Saturday afternoon, according to Washington State Patrol.  The condition of the shooting victim was not known.

"There have been sporadic confrontations throughout the day. WSP and partner agencies are working together coordinating response to the situation," Washington State Patrol said in a statement on Twitter.