Federal authorities arrested Brian Cole Jr. on Thursday, marking the first major breakthrough in the nearly five-year investigation into the pipe bombs placed outside Democratic and Republican headquarters the night before the January 6 Capitol riot.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the identity of the suspect, who has been charged with an explosives offense.
Following the arrest, FBI agents swarmed a cul-de-sac in Virginia, where they were observed searching a residence and a vehicle trunk.
The arrest closes a significant gap in the investigation of the January 6 siege. For years, the identity of the hooded figure seen on surveillance video planting the devices remained unknown, despite extensive FBI analysis of cell tower data, shoe purchases, and thousands of video files.
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While the bombs did not detonate, officials have long maintained the devices were lethal.
The case had previously stalled, fueling various conspiracy theories regarding the suspect’s identity and motive.
Recent efforts to solve the case included increased resources and crowd-sourcing initiatives pushed by FBI leadership, including Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who stated last month that agents were working near 24-hour shifts on open-source leads.
Authorities indicated that additional charges against Cole are possible as the investigation continues.
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