WASHINGTON DC pipe-bomb suspect Brian Cole Jr. has been unmasked in a resurfaced family photo five years after he allegedly planted explosive devices ahead of the January 6 riot.
The smiling image of Cole, dressed in a blue shirt and tie, was posted by his mother on Instagram for National Son’s Day in September 2024.
It marked the first time the public has seen his face since the bomb plot shocked Washington.
The snap resurfaced just hours after FBI arrested a suspect in its nearly five-year-long investigation into the person who planted pipe bombs in Washington DC before Donald Trump‘s January 6, 2021 rally.
On January 5, 2021, a shadowy figure was recorded planting two explosive devices – the night before rioters stormed the Capitol building as the 2020 presidential election was certified.
Now, the FBI and Department of Justice have announced that suspect Cole Jr. was arrested following an investigation that stumped federal agents for years.
Agents descended on his home in Woodbridge, Virginia, an affluent suburb of Washington DC, hours before confirming he was cuffed.
He’s been charged with the use of an explosive device, and more charges could be dropped as the investigation continues, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a conference.
Federal authorities said the arrest came after a painstaking investigation where detectives traced the purchase of every part of the makeshift bombs, from end caps to wires to batteries.
“Let me be clear: There was no new tip, there was no new witness. Just good diligent police work and prosecutorial work,” said Bondi.
Though the suspect’s motive remains a mystery, he has been linked to statements that show anarchist ideology, sources told MS NOW.
Unnamed law enforcement sources said the bulk of the evidence against the alleged bomber was obtained in 2021 and 2022.
It’s an embarrassing blow to the FBI as agents reportedly could have made an arrest years ago, the insiders claimed to the outlet.
The arrest brings to a close a five-year-long mystery that’s sparked conspiracy theories questioning the motives of law enforcement.
Onlookers speculated that the incident could have been a complete hoax or that the suspect was a foreign agent.
The public was left terrified after surveillance video capturing the masked and hooded bomber was released – but didn’t lead to any arrests.
It sparked nationwide fears that the violent bomber could strike again and actually detonate the device in a second feared attack.
Two bombs were recovered near the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee offices and disabled, narrowly avoiding a disastrous explosion.
Authorities believe it was planted between 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm that evening, but they weren’t found until the following morning, 15 hours later.
Cops were forced to divert from the chaos at the Capitol and disable the devices. Investigators believe the suspect had ample time to escape the scene before the devices were found.
Then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris walked just 20 feet away from the DNC bomb before authorities learned about the incident.
Although the bombs were crudely made, authorities made it clear that if the devices had been ignited, they would have hurt anyone who was near them.
Online rumors swirled about whether the bomber was connected with the riot, which mainly consisted of outraged MAGA supporters questioning the legitimacy of Joe Biden‘s election win.
Officials have offered a reward of up to $500,000 to anyone who could help bring the suspect in.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15589863/washington-dc-pipe-bomber-arrested-fbi-mystery/