How the FBI Finally Identified the D.C. Pipe Bomb Suspect
On Thursday, federal authorities announced the arrest of a Virginia man in connection with the placement of pipe bombs at Democratic and Republican Party headquarters in Washington, D.C., the night before the riot in the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
30-year-old Brian Cole was linked to the crime through cell tower data from the night in question as well as past purchases of bomb making material, according to an official affidavit. While federal officials indicated that the investigation is still ongoing, Cole’s arrest is a long-awaited sign of progress in solving a mystery that for five years had baffled law enforcement. Here’s what we know so far.
What happened on January 5, 2021?
Surveillance footage showed an unidentified suspect appearing to place pipe bombs near the headquarters of both the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. on January 5, 2021, just blocks away from the U.S. Capitol. Authorities described the suspect as being approximately five feet and seven inches tall, wearing a face mask, a gray sweatshirt, and dark pants as well as black-and-light-gray Nike Air Max Speed Turf sneakers.
The bombs were discovered the following day and ultimately did not detonate but were considered viable and capable of doing significant damage. Subsequent reports would reveal that then-Vice-President Kamala Harris was in the DNC offices when the bomb was discovered and had to be evacuated from the scene by her Secret Service detail.
The FBI had been still seeking the public’s help with the case, publishing additional information including a longer video of the suspect in January. “Over the past four years, a dedicated team of FBI agents, analysts, data scientists, and law-enforcement partners has visited more than 1,200 residences and businesses, conducted more than 1,000 interviews, reviewed approximately 39,000 video files, and assessed more than 600 tips about who may have placed pipe bombs on Capitol Hill in January 2021,” said David Sundberg, assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office in a statement.
What do we know about the suspect?
NBC News and CNN report that the suspect is Brian Cole, a 30-year-old Virginia man who was arrested Thursday morning.
News footage shows FBI agents conducting a search on a home associated with the suspect in Woodbridge. ABC News spoke to Cole’s grandmother, who said the family is in disbelief over his arrest:
The grandmother of Brian Cole Jr. tells ABC’s @lizzkatherine_ that the family is “completely shocked” by his arrest.
— Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) December 4, 2025
She said that the family is in disbelief at his arrest saying that they haven’t gotten much information from authorities.
“We don’t know anything,” his… https://t.co/WtzRdm7Txa
What prompted the suspect’s arrest?
Officials declined to provide specifics during Thursday’s press conference due to the ongoing investigation. Bongino provided the most detailed response, saying that “forensic evidence” lead to Cole’s arrest.
An signed affidavit supporting Cole’s arrest shed new light on the investigation. According to the filing, investigators discovered that Cole purchased materials consistent with those needed to build the pipe bombs that were discovered. The components include a specific galvanized pipe, timers, electrical wire, and steel wool among other items. The purchases were made between 2019 and 2020 and were traced to Cole’s personal banking accounts and credit cards. Investigators were also utilized cell tower data that placed Cole’s location in the vicinity of the DNC and RNC headquarters on January 5, 2021.
What are officials saying?
Federal officials addressed Cole’s arrest at a press conference Thursday afternoon, confirming that that he is being charged with transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce and malicious destruction by means of explosion. “This investigation is ongoing. As we speak, search warrants are being executed and there could be more charges to come,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said.
Attorney General Bondi: "Early this morning, Brian Cole, Jr. was arrested and charged with placing the pipe bombs at the RNC and the DNC on January 5, 2021...as we speak, search warrants are being executed and there could be more charges to come." pic.twitter.com/gI6dpv0Dtj
— CSPAN (@cspan) December 4, 2025
Bondi took a notably partisan tone during the press conference, alleging that the pipe-bomb investigation languished under the Biden administration with no progress until FBI director Kash Patel and deputy FBI director Dan Bongino joined the agency.
Patel and Bongino joined Bondi in her victory lap, applauding their team’s work while pointing the finger at their predecessors. The FBI director said the agency brought in a new team of investigators who pored over the existing evidence and data, which Patel said was “something that the prior administration refused and failed to do.”
“As a result of that, we generated numerous investigative leads, executed multiple legal processes with our U.S. Attorney partners, and came to this conclusion today. And that is why we were able to safely secure this individual into custody,” Patel said.
But the highly anticipated press conference was surprisingly light on new details, as officials declined to answer reporters’ questions about what led them to Cole, citing the ongoing investigation. Bondi reiterated that his arrest wasn’t the result of new information.
“Let me be clear: There was no new tip. There was no new witness. Just good, diligent police work and prosecutorial work, working as a team along with ATF, Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police Department, and, of course, the FBI,” she said.
Wasn’t there a recent false claim about the bomber’s identity?
Yes. The right-wing news site the Blaze recently alleged that a former U.S. Capitol Police officer was the attempted bomber, claiming that her “gait” matched that of the suspect seen in surveillance footage. The story quickly caught fire on social media and was bolstered by prominent figures like Republican representatives Thomas Massie and Barry Loudermilk. But federal officials soon shut down the speculation. In a lengthy tweet, Bongino wrote that “some of the media reporting regarding prior persons of interest is grossly inaccurate and serves only to mislead the public.”