Police arrest suspect in DC pipe bomb case after 5-year investigation

[mystery-ak]

FBI arrests suspect in DC pipe bomb case after 5-year investigation

Law enforcement arrested the suspect Thursday morning in Virginia

By Anders Hagstrom , David Spunt , Ashley Oliver , Jake Gibson Fox News
Published December 4, 2025 8:39am EST

A suspect who allegedly planted pipe bombs blocks from the U.S. Capitol on January 5, 2021, is now in federal custody after a nearly five-year investigation, law enforcement sources told Fox News Digital on Thursday.

The FBI arrested the suspect, a male living in Virginia, early Thursday morning, the sources said.

Authorities discovered the two pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic National Committees' headquarters around the same time that thousands of protesters a few blocks away began to descend on the Capitol over the 2020 election results.

Video footage released by the FBI showed an unidentified person placing the pipe bombs near the two headquarters more than 16 hours before law enforcement found them.

This is a developing story. Check back soon for updates

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/police-arrest-suspect-dc-pipe-bomb-case-after-5-year-investigation

[andy58-in-nh]

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/police-arrest-suspect-dc-pipe-bomb-case-after-5-year-investigation

Just breaking now....more to follow.

[andy58-in-nh]

More here:

https://apnews.com/article/pipe-bombs-dc-jan6-40d748385b7b18ece2208c6c6690708b

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI made an arrest on Thursday in its nearly 5-year-old investigation into who placed pipe bombs in Washington on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

The arrest marks the first time investigators have settled on a suspect in an act that had long vexed law enforcement, spawned a multitude of conspiracy theories and remained an enduring mystery in the shadow of the dark chapter of American history that is the violent Capitol siege.

The official who described the arrest was not authorized to publicly discuss a case that has not yet been made public and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The arrest took place Thursday morning, and the suspect is a man, the official said. No other details were immediately available, including the charges the man might face.

[mountaineer]

What happens with the female FBI employee* previously identified, I wonder.

* https://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php?topic=571370.0

Bonchie
@bonchieredstate
I like Steve. Nothing against him.
But given the FBI just arrested a man for placing the bombs, the woman he targeted based on “gait analysis” is about to become very wealthy at his and his employer’s expense.
8:52 AM · Dec 4, 2025

Steve Baker
@SteveBakerUSA
In case you’re wondering why there has been no action on our series of stories revealing knowledge and complicity by certain @CapitolPolice actors in the J6 pipe bombs conspiracy: “They are being completely steamrolled by the Comey/Wray zealots they’ve promoted.”
12:53 PM · Dec 3, 2025

Steve Baker
@SteveBakerUSA
“I went from 90% certain that some Capitol Police were involved in the Jan. 6 pipe bomb to 95% certain, and now I'm at 99% certain after this new story … I’m doing this on probability. The probability may even be higher than that.”
7:22 PM · Nov 26, 2025

[Mod2]

Topics merged - let's put pipe bomb stories in the Jan. 6 category

[andy58-in-nh]

What happens with the female FBI employee* previously identified, I wonder.

*https://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php?topic=571370.0

It turns out that she had a solid alibi, and is no longer considered a suspect.

[mountaineer]

Nick Sortor
@nicksortor
Apparently, a “new review of old evidence” pinpointed a man who could’ve been arrested years ago.
The identity is going to be quite telling.
9:20 AM · Dec 4, 2025

The alleged DC pipe bomber, arrested about 90 minutes ago in in Virginia by the FBI, is expected to appear in court TODAY

https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1996583673085170057

[American Girl]

Excerpt:
The bombs were placed at the RNC and DNC offices in Washington D.C. on Jan. 5, 2021, the day before the events of Jan. 6.

The alleged bomber was seen in what CNN described as a grainy surveillance video that showed a person in a hoodie, gloves and a face mask.

The bombs were discovered about 15 hours after they were left, and before they went off, CNN reported. They were rendered safe and no one was hurt, but officials said both pipe bombs could have been deadly, The Associated Press reported.




No way that's a man


Depending on who this is, it can get very spicy

https://defiantamerica.com/suspect-who-placed-pipe-bombs-at-rnc-dnc-on-jan-6-has-reportedly-been-arrested/

[Mod2]

Topics merged

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/susancrabtree/status/1996576641510989841

[rustynail]

'identity has still not been released', why is there always a catch?

[DB]

'identity has still not been released', why is there always a catch?

Likely because of social media. They have to search and identify all social media tenacles before they are corrupted/buried.

[andy58-in-nh]

NBC News: Brian Cole is the person the FBI has in custody and whom they believe left the pipe bombs in DC  on 1/5/2021, according to two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter.

The suspect arrested in the January 6th bomber case is Brian Cole, Jr. of Woodbridge, Virginia, born July 12, 1995.

Sources:

https://x.com/Tom_Winter/status/1996596127710232904

https://x.com/karol/status/1996607435750977776

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2025/12/04/j6-pipe-bomb-suspect-arrested-n2667370

[mystery-ak]

The FBI is carrying out "court enforced activity" at a home in Woodbridge, Va., after authorities arrested a suspect who allegedly planted pipe bombs blocks from the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 5, 2021. (WTTG)

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/mazemoore/status/1996647270310465991

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1996653114103841140

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/1996655644146127004

[rustynail]

Mug shots are public records.  Where is this one?

[mystery-ak]

Mug shots are public records.  Where is this one?

I haven't seen a mugshot yet but there are several pics on X saying it is him..I will wait for verification

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/Milajoy/status/1996658935995290015

[Smokin Joe]

Excerpt:
The bombs were placed at the RNC and DNC offices in Washington D.C. on Jan. 5, 2021, the day before the events of Jan. 6.

The alleged bomber was seen in what CNN described as a grainy surveillance video that showed a person in a hoodie, gloves and a face mask.

The bombs were discovered about 15 hours after they were left, and before they went off, CNN reported. They were rendered safe and no one was hurt, but officials said both pipe bombs could have been deadly, The Associated Press reported.




No way that's a man


Depending on who this is, it can get very spicy

https://defiantamerica.com/suspect-who-placed-pipe-bombs-at-rnc-dnc-on-jan-6-has-reportedly-been-arrested/

Would someone explain to me how those timers were set 15 hours or more after the devices were planted?  That is not a 15 (or more) hour timer. 

[rustynail]

https://twitter.com/Milajoy/status/1996658935995290015

Surprising.  Did not expect it to be someone who looks like that.  Thanks.

[mountaineer]

Will Jazzy Crackpot scream racism?

Looks like Antifa:

Dec 4, 2025
BREAKING UPDATE: FBI arrests 'anarchist' Brian Cole as suspect in J6 RNC, DNC pipe bomb investigation: report
The suspect is reportedly a man who was living in Virginia.
Hannah Nightingale
The Post Millennial

After nearly five years, the FBI has reportedly arrested a suspect in its investigation into the January 2021 planting of pipe bombs outside both the Republican and Democrat party headquarters in Washington, DC. The arrested suspect has been identified as Brian Cole, sources told the New York Post.

An FBI official told NBC News that the arrest was made on Thursday morning, which will officially be announced by officials later in the day at a news conference. The suspect is reportedly a man who was living in Virginia. According to MSNOW, while a motive has not yet been determined by authorities, two people briefed on the arrest said that the suspect has been linked to statements supporting anarchist ideology.

The FBI had sought help from the public for years for information that could lead to the arrest of a suspect. Officials have described the suspect as being around 5 feet, 7 inches tall, and wearing Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes with a gold logo at the time. In 2023, the bureau raised the reward for information that led to an arrest from $100,000 to $500,000.

Authorities discovered two pipe bombs that had been placed near the Republican and Democratic National Committees’ headquarters in Washington, DC on January 6, around the same time as the events at the Capitol.  ...

[andy58-in-nh]

Brian Cole Bail Bonds is a bail bond business in Fairfax, VA, located at 4085 Chain Bridge Road, that has been associated with a recent FBI investigation.

The FBI searched the office as part of an investigation into a suspect with the same name.

The business is also registered under the trademark Free U Bail Bonds, owned by Brian J. Cole.

Business name: Brian Cole Bail Bonds LLC
Address: 4085 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/julie_kelly2/status/1996659001308917920

[mystery-ak]

AG Bondi: Evidence Leading to J6 Pipe Bomber Arrest ‘Collecting Dust’ at Biden’s FBI 4 Years

Evidence leading to the arrest of a suspect for planting pipe bombs at the DNC and RNC was “sitting there collecting dust” at the FBI during the four years of the Biden administration, Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed Thursday.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/12/04/ag-bondi-evidence-leading-to-j6-pipe-bomber-arrest-collecting-dust-at-bidens-fbi-4-years/

[mystery-ak]

 Accused DC pipe-bomber Brian Cole Jr.’s face unmasked for first time after arrest in resurfaced photo
By Anna Young   
Published Dec. 4, 2025, 5:27 p.m. ET

Accused DC pipe-bomber Brian Cole Jr.’s face was revealed for the first time since he was busted for allegedly planting explosive devices outside the Republican and Democratic National Committees ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.

Cole’s mother shared the smiling picture of him in a blue dress shirt and tie on Instagram for National Son’s Day in September 2024 — more than three years after the alleged attempted bombing.



more
https://nypost.com/2025/12/04/us-news/accused-dc-pipe-bomber-brian-cole-jr-s-face-unmasked-for-first-time-after-arrest-in-resurfaced-photo/

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Accused DC pipe-bomber Brian Cole Jr.’s face unmasked for first time after arrest in resurfaced photo
By Anna Young   
Published Dec. 4, 2025, 5:27 p.m. ET

Accused DC pipe-bomber Brian Cole Jr.’s face was revealed for the first time since he was busted for allegedly planting explosive devices outside the Republican and Democratic National Committees ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.

Cole’s mother shared the smiling picture of him in a blue dress shirt and tie on Instagram for National Son’s Day in September 2024 — more than three years after the alleged attempted bombing.



more
https://nypost.com/2025/12/04/us-news/accused-dc-pipe-bomber-brian-cole-jr-s-face-unmasked-for-first-time-after-arrest-in-resurfaced-photo/

My wife tells me I am colorblind, but that photo looks like a white shirt to me.

[DCPatriot]

My wife tells me I am colorblind, but that photo looks like a white shirt to me.

His teeth are sparkling white.  The shirt is the powderist of blue   

[IsailedawayfromFR]

The FBI is carrying out "court enforced activity" at a home in Woodbridge, Va., after authorities arrested a suspect who allegedly planted pipe bombs blocks from the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 5, 2021. (WTTG)

Looks like an expensive home.  I recall one item on the suspect was the expensive shoes he wore, so it makes sense.

[Kamaji]

The FBI is carrying out "court enforced activity" at a home in Woodbridge, Va., after authorities arrested a suspect who allegedly planted pipe bombs blocks from the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 5, 2021. (WTTG)

Oh the neighbors are going to LOVE that.

[DCPatriot]

Looks like an expensive home.  I recall one item on the suspect was the expensive shoes he wore, so it makes sense.

Appears to be a standard 4BR 2.5BA Colonial on a premium half-acre to acre size lot backing to woods.

Don't know the Woodbridge, Virginia market.  Everything has gone insane.

[Hoodat]

Alleged Pipe Bomber’s Family Sued Trump DHS Over Illegal Immigration, Asked Biden DOJ To Address Racism

The father of Brian Cole, a bail bondsman for illegal immigrants, hired Trayvon Martin’s attorney in 2021.

Luke Rosiak  •  Dec 4, 2025

Brian Cole, Jr. worked for a bail bonds company run by his father that worked to free illegal immigrants from ICE facilities and sued the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security.

Weeks before 30-year-old Cole Jr. allegedly planted pipe bombs at the headquarters of the Democrat and Republican parties on January 5, 2021, a court ruled against the company in its lawsuit attacking the Trump administration on immigration issues, The Daily Wire has learned. An FBI affidavit in the case notes that the suspect works for a bail bond company and lives with his mother.

Later in 2021, the company held a press conference bemoaning anti-black racism with a left-wing attorney. Cole Sr. and Benjamin Crump, who represented the family of Trayvon Martin, attempted to sic the Biden Department of Justice on a local Tennessee prosecutor who had raised questions about the bail bond company.

“A high-profile civil rights attorney is calling for a federal investigation into a Rutherford County prosecutor accused of discrimination,” Nashville news outlet WPLN reported on November 16, 2021.

Cole Sr., who is black, claimed racial persecution by Rutherford County Assistant District Attorney John Zimmerman, video shows. Zimmerman had raised concerns about the bail bond company’s ethics, noting that it had been suspended from operating in a nearby district.  .  .

https://www.dailywire.com/news/alleged-d-c-pipe-bomber-sued-trump-dhs-over-illegal-immigration-asked-biden-doj-to-address-racism

[Hoodat]

Here is a copy of the criminal complaint:

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287327/gov.uscourts.dcd.287327.1.0.pdf

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287327/gov.uscourts.dcd.287327.1.1.pdf

COLE’s Purchases of Bombmaking Equipment

The FBI has identified one bank checking account and six credit cards (the “Accounts”)
used by COLE. The FBI obtained records for the checking account and three credit cards for the
time period January 2018 to January 2021. Three additional credit cards were obtained for the time
period of January 2018 to November 2025. The FBI reviewed the transaction history for all of
these Accounts.

During 2019 and 2020, COLE purchased multiple items consistent with the components
that were used to manufacture the pipe bombs placed at the RNC and DNC. COLE used the
Accounts to purchase these items from physical retail locations in northern Virginia, as described
in more detail below:

• Both pipe bombs were manufactured using a 1” x 8” galvanized pipe with markings
consistent with a particular manufacturer’s (the “Pipe Manufacturer”) product labeling.
COLE purchased a total of six galvanized pipes of this size and shape on or about June
1, June 8, and November 16, 2020. The purchases were made at two different Home
Depot location in northern Virginia. According to the Pipe Manufacturer,
approximately 26,000 of these items from Pipe Manufacturer were sold in 2020, and
over 22,000 of these items were sold to Home Depot.

• Both pipe bombs were manufactured using “end caps,” which were used to close the
ends of the eight-inch pipe. The pipe bombs placed outside the RNC and DNC
contained a mix of both black and galvanized end caps. The end caps had markings
consistent with Pipe Manufacturer’s product labeling. COLE purchased a total of 12
black end caps and 2 galvanized end caps from four different Home Depots in northern
Virginia on or about the following dates: October 22, 2019, and March 10, June 20,
July 8, and November 16, 2020. According to the Pipe Manufacturer, approximately
233,000 of the black end caps from Pipe Manufacturer were distributed in 2020,
including to Home Depot. In addition, approximately 179,200 galvanized end caps
from Pipe Manufacturer were distributed in 2020, including to Home Depot.

• Both pipe bombs were manufactured using a nine-volt (9V) battery connector with
attached red and black wires. The nine-volt battery connectors used in the pipe bombs
had identifying information on the black and red insulated wires that were consistent
with those distributed in North America by a known company and its predecessors (the
“Nine Volt Distributor”). COLE purchased five of the Nine Volt Distributor’s nine-volt
battery connectors from Micro Center in northern Virginia on or about November 12
and December 28, 2019, including cash purchases made during the December
transaction. Fewer than 8,000 of Nine Volt Distributor’s nine-volt battery connectors
were distributed in the United States between December 2017 and January 5, 2021.

• Both pipe bombs were manufactured using a white kitchen-style timer. COLE
purchased two white kitchen timers from a Walmart in northern Virginia on or about
June 3, 2020.

• Both pipe bombs used a mix of 14-gauge red and black electrical wire. COLE
purchased 14-gauge electrical wire in red and black on or about May 23 and October
22, 2019, and on or about September 27, October 7, and November 24, 2020. COLE’s
purchases of 14-gauge red and black electrical wire were made from one Home Depot
and one Lowes location in northern Virginia.

• Both pipe bombs were packed with steel wool. COLE purchased steel wool from a
Home Depot in northern Virginia on or about December 4, 2020.
In addition to purchasing each type of component used to make the pipe bombs, COLE
purchased equipment that would facilitate the manufacturing of a pipe bomb. Such items included:

• Safety glasses on or about July 8, 2020;

• A wire stripping tool on or about November 14, 2020;

• Wire nuts, which are used to join wires together, on or about November 14, 2020;

• Sandpaper on or about November 21, 2020;

• A machinist’s file, a tool for shaping and smoothing metal parts, on or about November
21, 2020; and

• Protective gloves and disinfecting wipes on or about November 24, 2020.

[Wingnut]

He'll prolly get off. 

[libertybele]

He'll prolly get off.

Agreed; likely he will.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

He'll prolly get off.

What's strange here is the perp morphed from a white female cop to a black male grifter. 

[mystery-ak]

Warner: Bomb Suspect Could’ve Been Caught Earlier if Trump Didn’t Divert Resources

On Thursday’s broadcast of MS NOW’s “Katy Tur Reports,” Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) reacted to the arrest of a suspect in the January 2021 bomb plantings by stating that “it’s a little rich that they are saying America’s safer” because many FBI officers have been assigned to immigration cases and wondering, “How much earlier could we have caught this guy if resources hadn’t been diverted?”

Warner said, “I think it is good news if this perpetrator got arrested.”

He continued, “But I’ve got to tell you, it kind of makes me, looking at this crowd doing a victory lap when all the senior FBI officials across all key divisions have been fired for political purposes, when, in some field offices, up to 45% of the FBI officers who were doing things like counter-espionage and cyber have been assigned to do immigration cases, it’s a little rich that they are saying America’s safer. How much earlier could we have caught this guy if resources hadn’t been diverted?”

more
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/12/05/warner-bomb-suspect-couldve-been-caught-earlier-if-trump-didnt-divert-resources/

[mystery-ak]

Today's talking points


Dem Rep. Subramanyam: I Want to Know Why Biden, Trump Admins Took So Long to Catch Bomb Suspect

On Thursday’s broadcast of MS NOW’s “Ana Cabrera Reports,” Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) reacted to the arrest of a suspect in the January 2021 bomb plantings by saying that he wants to know “why has it taken so long for law enforcement, under both the Trump administration and the Biden administration, to apprehend” the suspect.

Host Ana Cabrera asked, “What more are you hoping to learn from investigators about this?”

Subramanyam responded, “I want to know why it’s taken so long to identify the suspect and bring him into questioning. It looks like he’s actually from Woodbridge, Virginia, which is close to my district. And it seems like this person was out there for four years or more after doing this heinous crime and was not detained and arrested. And so, why has it taken so long for law enforcement, under both the Trump administration and the Biden administration, to apprehend this individual?”

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/12/05/dem-rep-subramanyam-i-want-to-know-why-biden-trump-admins-took-so-long-to-catch-bomb-suspect/

[mystery-ak]

Dem Rep. Goldman: Biden FBI Didn’t Mess Up by Not Getting Pipe Bomb Suspect That ‘Dreadful’ Trump FBI Did

On Thursday’s broadcast of MS NOW’s “The Briefing,” Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) said that the FBI is “doing such a poor job, because they’re so focused on the politics of everything, they’re not focused on the safety and security of the American people. And that is what is missing. That’s what we’re losing through this dreadful FBI.” And also stated that the Biden administration didn’t do a poor job by not being able to arrest any suspects in the 2021 pipe bomb plantings.

Host Jen Psaki asked, “Pam Bondi and Kash Patel, though, also say that the evidence used to arrest the alleged pipe bomber was, quote, collecting dust under the Biden DOJ. You have a role in oversight of the Justice Department. Do you have any belief or view that there was anything mishandled by the Biden administration while this investigation was ongoing?”

Goldman answered, “I don’t even think their allegations are anything was mishandled. It’s just the unfortunate reality is that this Department of Justice cannot help but make everything political. It’s terrific if they got the pipe bomber, excellent investigative work. They should be proud of that. But why does it have anything to do with Joe Biden? Why is everything chest thumping and this and that and that? Just do your job. Do your job. But the problem is, that, in pretty much every other case, Kash Patel is not doing his job, which is why morale in the FBI is unbelievably low, why people are miserable there, and why they are doing such a poor job, because they’re so focused on the politics of everything, they’re not focused on the safety and security of the American people. And that is what is missing. That’s what we’re losing through this dreadful FBI.”

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/12/04/dem-rep-goldman-biden-fbi-didnt-mess-up-by-not-getting-suspect-that-dreadful-trump-fbi-did/

[mystery-ak]

Yep...it's Trump's fault...

[bigheadfred]

 

[Bigun]

It's an absolute fact that it's impossible to find that which you refuse to look for and until recently no one was really looking for this guy.

[mystery-ak]

Bondi: Feds sat on J6 pipe bomb evidence for FOUR years under Biden regime
December 5, 2025 | Vivek Saxena

Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed on Thursday that the federal government had been sitting on evidence pertaining to the Jan. 6 pipe bombs for the last four years.

“Today’s arrest happened because the Trump administration has made this case a priority,” she said. “The total lack of movement on this case in our nation’s Capitol [under the Biden administration] undermined the public trust of our enforcement agencies.”

“This cold case languished for four years until Director Patel and Deputy Director Bongino came to the FBI,” she added. “The FBI, along with U.S. Attorney Pirro and all of our prosecutors, have worked tirelessly for months, sifting through evidence that had been sitting at the FBI with the Biden administration for four long years.”

https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/1996668483925372981

more
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/12/05/bondi-feds-sat-on-j6-pipe-bomb-evidence-for-four-years-under-biden-regime-1608257/

[andy58-in-nh]

Biden's FBI was too busy going after Christians, conservative school moms and Donald Trump to be much bothered. 

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1996928408044101895

[catfish1957]

Appears to be a standard 4BR 2.5BA Colonial on a premium half-acre to acre size lot backing to woods.

Don't know the Woodbridge, Virginia market.  Everything has gone insane.

Pretty nice place for someone who worked at his Dad's Bail Bondsman Business.   

[Luis Gonzalez]

I don’t know. Every time I watch the video on TV, I see a woman walking, not a man at all.