In a stunning advance in one of the longest unsolved Bomb cases tied to the January 6, 2021, Capitol hoot, the FBI has arrested 30- time–old Brian J. Cole Jr. of Woodbridge, Virginia, for allegedly planting two live pipe losers outside the Democratic National Committee( DNC) and Republican National Committee( RNC) headquarters in Washington, D.C., on the night of January 5, 2021.

The arrest, blazoned Friday morning, ends a nearly five- time manhunt that had frustrated investigators and offered a$ 500,000 price for information leading to the suspect’s prisoner.

Who Is Brian J. Cole Jr.? Bomb incident

Court documents closed moment identify Cole, a former U.S. Army dogface and Virginia occupant, as the masked individual captured on multiple surveillance cameras calmly placing the explosive bias under benches near the DNC and RNC structures between 730 p.m. and 830 p.m. on January 5.

Civil prosecutors charged Cole with Bomb incident

-Transportation of an explosive device with intent to kill or injure
-tried vicious destruction of property with snares
-Possession of an unrecorded destructive device
-Use of a destructive device during a crime of violence still, Cole faces a obligatory minimum of 30 times and up to life in civil captivity, If condemned on the most serious counts.

Timeline of the 2021 Pipe Bomb incident

January 5, 2021, evening A person wearing a argentine hooded sweatshirt, black gloves, and Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes places two feasible pipe losers just blocks from the U.S. Capitol.
January 6, 2021, autumn The losers are discovered shortly after rioters traduced the Capitol. Vice President- elect Kamala Harris was inside the DNC structure at the time; the RNC lemon was set up near the home of also– House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
2021 – 2025 Despite releasing enhanced videotape, shoe identification, and cellphone geofence data, the FBI fails to identify a suspect, making it one of the loftiest– precedence domestic terrorism cases.

How the FBI Eventually Broke the Case

According to sources familiar with the disquisition, a combination of new forensic analysis of the explosive factors, reappraisal of cellphone position data, and a tip submitted inmid-2025 led agents to Cole. Investigators reportedly matched DNA substantiation recovered from the pack and bias to Cole.

A civil affidavit countries Cole conducted internet quests for “ DNC headquarters ” and “ pipe lemon construction ” in the weeks before the attack. He also allegedly bought numerous of the lemon factors including galvanized sword pipe, kitchen timekeepers, and black greasepaint — from stores in Northern Virginia.

Political and Public response

House Speaker Mike Johnson( R- LA) called the arrest “ a major palm for justice, ” while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer( D- NY) prompted a full disquisition into any possible links between the pipe losers and the broader January 6 violence.

Progressive lawgivers renewed calls for Congress to release the full 2024 bipartisan Senate report on Capitol security failures, which reportedly devoted significant attention to the unsolved pipe losers.

What Happens Next?

Cole is listed to make his original appearance in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, on Monday, December 8, 2025. Prosecutors have indicated they will seek pretrial detention, citing Cole as both a flight threat and a peril to the community.
The FBI continues to probe whether Cole acted alone or had cohorts.

Why This Case Still Matters in 2025

The January 5 pipe losers remain the only explosive bias successfully planted in Washington, D.C., in connection with the events of January 6. Their discovery forced evacuations and diverted law enforcement coffers at the exact moment the Capitol was under siege — raising patient questions about collaboration and intent.

Moment’s arrest eventually closes a chapter that has visited investigators, lawgivers, and the public for nearly half a decade.