After 5 years of a manhunt, federal authorities finally arrested Brian Cole, the man accused of placing pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Committee offices the night before the Jan 6 Capitol riot. Cole was living in Woodbridge, Virginia, before he was taken into custody.
The night of January 5, 2021
On the evening of 5 January 2021, Cole allegedly placed two homemade pipe bombs near the DNC and RNC headquarters. The devices were made from 1×8‑inch galvanized metal pipes, filled with homemade black powder, and fitted with a kitchen timer for detonation. Neither device exploded, but officials described them as capable of causing serious injury or death.Surveillance footage captured the suspect wearing Nike shoes, a dark hoodie, and glasses, reportedly carrying a backpack containing the bombs. The devices were later found and safely recovered by the FBI.
$500,000 reward and dead ends
For almost five years, authorities struggled to identify the individual in the grainy, low-quality surveillance images. Investigators reviewed tens of thousands of video files, interviewed hundreds of witnesses, and analysed digital and geolocation data to determine where the suspect actually went after planting the bombs.A $500,000 reward was issued to any person who would provide helpful details about the criminal. But it was all for nothing. Lawmakers questioned how security failures allowed the bombs to remain undetected for nearly 17 hours. The FBI continued to release updated video footage and physical descriptions, estimating the suspect at around 5′7″ tall.
The arrest
The breakthrough came in December 2025, when investigators were able to link new forensic evidence and video analysis to Brian Cole. Authorities executed a warrant at his home in Woodbridge, taking him into custody without incident. Formal charges have not yet been publicly released, but officials confirmed the arrest closes one of the longest-running mysteries tied to the January 6 riots.
