Trendpills
WASHINGTON—After a nearly four-year investigation, the FBI has arrested a suspect in connection with the placement of two pipe bombs in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in one of the most high-profile and perplexing unsolved cases stemming from the events surrounding the attack.
On the evening of January 5, 2021, an individual was captured on surveillance footage planting explosive devices. One was placed in an alley behind the Republican National Committee (RNC) headquarters, and another was left near a bench outside the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters. The bombs, which authorities later determined were viable and could have caused “great bodily harm or death,” did not detonate. Their discovery the following day, as the Capitol was being breached, triggered a massive law enforcement response and complicated efforts to secure the area.
The search for the perpetrator has been one of the most intensive in recent FBI history. Investigators analyzed about 39,000 video files, conducted over 1,000 interviews, and pursued hundreds of tips from the public. The FBI had previously offered a reward of up to $500,000 for information leading to an arrest. For years, the suspect’s identity remained a complete mystery, with authorities uncertain of even their gender, referring to the person only as the “Capitol Hill pipe bomber.”
Key clues in the prolonged manhunt included the suspect's distinctive attire: a gray hooded sweatshirt, a face mask, and a notable pair of black and gray Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes with a yellow logo. The FBI released detailed maps of the suspect's path through the Capitol Hill neighborhood and recently shared newly enhanced video footage showing the individual sitting on a bench before placing one of the devices. The 17-hour delay between the bombs' placement and their discovery was a major challenge for the investigation.
The incident drew further scrutiny because then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was inside the DNC building when the nearby pipe bomb was found. While the connection between the pipe bombs and the subsequent riot at the Capitol has never been officially confirmed, the timing and location of the devices have led investigators to believe they were part of the broader plan to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election. The suspect now faces federal charges related to the explosives.
