The wanted suspect on the day of the incident.

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

After five years, a Virginia man has reportedly been identified and arrested for a would-be bombing attempt after devices were placed at the Democratic National Committee HQ the day before the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

According to multiple reports, Brian Cole has been taken into custody for allegedly placing pipe bombs near the headquarters of the RNC and DNC in DC. 

The arrest was made on Thursday, Dec. 4, though details were not immediately released by investigators.

MS Now reported that Cole has been linked to statements in support of anarchist ideology, citing two people briefed on the arrest.

No motive has been established.

The pipe bomb suspect

The pipe bomb suspect

FBI

Between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2021, federal investigators say that an unknown person placed two pipe bombs in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC.

Officials said that one was placed in an alley behind the headquarters of the RNC on First Street SE, and the second next to a park bench near the DNC headquarters on South Capitol Street SE.

Video outlining Cole's alleged actions was released by the FBI as they continue to investigate the incident.

The man is still at large four years after placing the bombs.

FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation

The suspect wore a face mask, glasses, gloves, a gray hooded sweatshirt, and black and light gray Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes with a yellow logo, according to the FBI. He was also carrying a backpack.

The Nike shoes.

The Nike shoes.

FBI

Components of the device included 1-by-8-inch threaded galvanized pipes, end caps, kitchen timers, wires, metal clips, and homemade black powder.

Components used to make the bombs.

Components used to make the bombs.

FBI

"Although these bombs did not detonate, the suspect walked along residential and commercial areas in Capitol Hill just blocks from the US Capitol with viable pipe bombs that could have seriously injured or killed innocent bystanders," officials said.

According to David Sundberg, the assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, in the past four years, his agency has: 

  • Visited more than 1,200 residences and businesses;
  • Conducted more than 1,000 interviews;
  • Reviewed approximately 39,000 video files;
  • Assessed more than 600 tips about who may have placed the pipe bombs in January 2021.

In a long post on X last month, US FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino wrote that the FBI had brought in new personnel to examine the case and “dramatically increased investigative resources” along with the public award for information “to utilize crowd-sourcing leads.”

"We brought in new personnel to take a look at the case, we flew in police officers and detectives working as TFOs (task force officers) to review FBI work, we conducted multiple internal reviews, held countless in-person and SVTC meetings with investigative team members, we dramatically increased investigative resources, and we increased the public award for information in the case to utilize crowd-sourcing leads," he posted.

"This is only a small sample of the work the FBI personnel and leadership team have put into this critical investigation." 

Anyone with information regarding the suspect or incidents has been asked to contact the FBI’s toll-free tip line by calling 1-800-225-5324.

This is a developing story. Check Daily Voice for updates.