Virginia Man Arrested for Pipe Bombs Planted Before Capitol Riot

Fri Dec 05 2025 10:30:41 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

After an extensive investigation, law enforcement officials have arrested a Virginia man in connection with two pipe bombs placed outside the national committee headquarters just before the January 6 Capitol riot.

Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old resident of Woodbridge, Virginia, has been arrested and charged with the attempted destruction of explosive materials related to two pipe bombs planted outside the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021. The bombs were found just hours before rioters stormed the Capitol, and although they were safely deactivated, the case remained a mystery until now. Law enforcement officials had conducted a thorough investigation, sifting through millions of data lines, to identify Cole as the suspect. The investigation raised questions about motives and the ease with which one can breach national security.

Virginia Man Arrested for Pipe Bombs Planted Before Capitol Riot

A Virginia man has been arrested in connection with two pipe bombs placed outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national committees on the eve of the 2021 Capitol riot.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Brian Cole Jr., 30, was taken into custody without incident early Thursday morning. He faces charges including the use of an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction via explosive materials.

Officials have not yet disclosed a motive for the bombings, which were ultimately deactivated without detonating. This arrest marks a significant breakthrough in a case that had long evaded law enforcement, despite a substantial reward of $500,000 offered for information leading to identification of the suspect.

Authorities noted that despite the lack of fresh tips leading to the arrest, investigators poured over extensive evidence gathered over the years, including approximately three million lines of data.

The FBI indicated that Cole had previously purchased bomb-making components from various hardware stores in the area, demonstrating a planning phase that spanned across 2019 and 2020. Evidence also linked him to the scene during the timeframe of the bomb placements prior to the Capitol riot, which saw chaos as supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the building.

With the investigation having clocked significant resources and raised various conspiracy theories regarding the motivations behind the pipes, FBI officials emphasized the importance of maintaining safety and the relentless pursuit of justice against those who threaten national security.