Federal agents on Thursday arrested a Virginia man who is suspected of planting pipe bombs near the headquarters of both the Democratic and Republican national committees in Washington the night before the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol, officials said.

The arrest could solve a mystery that has vexed law enforcement for nearly five years. Despite interviews with more than 1,000 people and video footage showing a person sitting on a bench, removing what appears to be a pipe bomb from a bag, officials had struggled to make a breakthrough in the investigation.

Justice Department officials identified the suspect as Brian Cole Jr. of Woodbridge, Virginia, who is being charged with transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce and attempted malicious destruction by means of

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