Federal agents on Thursday arrested a Virginia man suspected of planting pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic national headquarters in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol protest, according to multiple media reports citing law enforcement officials.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The FBI took the suspect into custody Thursday morning, ending a nearly five-year search for the individual responsible for placing explosive devices outside both party headquarters the night before the Capitol unrest. The arrest was first reported by CBS News, The Associated Press, and CNN.
The person in custody is a Virginia man, according to The Wall Street Journal and ABC News. Authorities have not yet released his name or the specific charges.
The FBI has searched for nearly five years for whoever planted the two pipe bombs on Jan. 5, 2021. Both devices were found near the offices of the Democratic and Republican national committees in the District of Columbia and were later rendered safe by law enforcement. Officials have said the bombs could have been lethal if detonated.
The suspect’s arrest marks the first significant breakthrough in an investigation that had long vexed federal agents, fueled conspiracy theories, and cast a lingering shadow over the events of Jan. 6. A law enforcement official told the Associated Press that the suspect’s identity and charges will be made public after initial court proceedings.
Investigators have struggled for years to determine the bomber’s identity, despite reviewing tens of thousands of video files and receiving hundreds of public tips. The bureau had previously released surveillance footage showing a hooded figure walking through Capitol Hill neighborhoods carrying a backpack on the night of Jan. 5.
In January 2024, the FBI renewed its appeal for public assistance by releasing enhanced video of the suspect and offering a larger monetary reward for information leading to an arrest.
Dan Bongino, who now serves as FBI deputy director, had previously suggested before his appointment that the bombing could have involved “an inside job” and “a massive cover-up.” Since taking office in March, Bongino has publicly pledged to prioritize the case and to restore confidence among agents and the public.
“We brought in new personnel to take a look at the case, we flew in police officers and detectives working as TFOs 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,” Bongino wrote in a lengthy post on X last month.
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