The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested suspect Brian Cole on Thursday after a nearly five-year investigation into the pipe bombs that were discovered outside the Republican and Democratic headquarters in Washington DC on the day of the January 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol.
Cole is the first definitive suspect in a case that has long baffled law enforcement.
The arrests were announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, who said at a press conference: “I’m proud to stand before you and say we’ve solved this. He’s going to have his day in court. The American public and the world will learn even more through the legal process.”
Who is Brian Cole?
Cole, 30, lives in Woodbridge, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, the AP reported.
He was arrested Thursday morning local time and is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in Washington, DC at 1 p.m.
Cole graduated from Hylton High School in 2013, NBC News reported, citing a spokesman for Prince William County Public Schools.
The AP reported that as it arrived in the area of Cole’s home hours after Cole’s arrest, numerous police vehicles and FBI agents helped drive away bystanders.
It is currently unclear what Cole will be charged with.
Authorities say Cole may have ties to an “anarchist” ideology, the Right Angle News Network reported.
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January 6, 2021 pipe bomb case
The case involves the placement of two fully functional, potentially lethal pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Republican National Committee (RNC) between approximately 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM on the evening of January 5, 2021.
The bombs were discovered the next day, 15 to 17 hours later, around the time the US Capitol was occupied by rioters.
Despite an extensive investigation over the years, including a $500,000 reward, investigators have had difficulty identifying a suspect, according to the AP.
CCTV footage
Surveillance footage from the time the bombs were placed showed a hooded figure behind everything.
On January 5 at 7:40 p.m., the suspected bomber was seen standing in a residential area on South Capitol Street with a bag.
Two minutes later, the suspect was seen sitting on a bench outside the DNC, where the first pipe bomb was allegedly placed under a bush.
Subsequently, at 8:14 p.m., the suspect was spotted in an alley near the RNC, where a second pipe bomb was recovered, according to ABC.
Moments later, a security camera caught the suspect walking through the front of the Capitol Hill club, which is adjacent to the RNC.
Has anyone been hit by a pipe bomb in the White House?
Then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi both came “within range” of two potentially deadly devices while traveling to and from DNC headquarters on South Capitol Street on Jan. 6, the NY Post reported.
