According to the FBI, the suspect has been identified as Brian Cole Jr., a resident of Woodbridge, Virginia, about 37 km from Washington, DC.
According to CBS News, Cole graduated from a school district in Prince William County, Virginia, in 2013.
A FBI agent walks near the house where the FBI made an arrest in the Washington pipe bombs case. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
30-year-old Cole lived with his parents and worked for a bail bond company.
When reached out by NBC News, Earl Donnette, the step-grandfather of the suspect, said he spoke with the FBI about his step-grandson. Cole’s father, Brian Cole Sr., declined to comment.
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Motive still unknown
According to investigators, Cole’s motive has not been identified yet, but reports in US media suggest that they are looking into possible anarchist leanings of the suspect.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “This investigation is ongoing,” adding that “search warrants are being executed, and there could be more charges to come.”
Cole has been charged with use of an explosive device, FBI officials said in a Thursday afternoon press conference.
Prince William County Police talk with FBI agents near the house where the FBI made an arrest into who placed pipe bombs in Washington before the Jan. 6, 2021 riot. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Washington DC pipe bombs case
The suspect was arrested a month before the fifth anniversary of the incident.
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The bombs were discovered on the same day supporters of Trump stormed Congress in an attempt to stop lawmakers from certifying Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory.
How the suspect was identified
During the nearly five-year investigation, the FBI had released surveillance footage showing a person putting a bomb near a bench outside the Democratic National Committee building. The suspect placed another bomb at the Republican headquarters.
The FBI had also offered a $500,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
According to the FBI, based on the surveillance video, the suspect was estimated to be approximately five feet seven inches tall.
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The agency also noted that the suspect wore a face mask, a gray hooded sweatshirt, and black gloves. The suspect was wearing a distinctive Nike Air Max speed turf shoes, which are black and gray with a yellow Nike logo.
The FBI said fewer than 25,000 of these shoes were sold between August 2018 and January 2021.
