The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced on Thursday that it has arrested a suspect believed to have placed pipe bombs outside the headquarters of both the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Republican National Committee (RNC) on the evening of Jan. 5, 2021 — the night before the Capitol riot.
This arrest marks the first time investigators have publicly confirmed a suspect in the long-unsolved case, nearly five years after the bombs were planted.
According to law enforcement sources, the suspect is a man. As of now, no formal charges have been publicly disclosed, and authorities have provided few additional identifying details.
As The Hill reports:
Video footage and photos of the suspect showed a figure moving through the shadows wearing a hoodie as well as a face mask.
Despite the highly publicized nature of the case, the suspect continued to evade law enforcement for years, and the FBI was unable to answer basic questions about them, including their gender.
The FBI made repeated calls for help in identifying them, in January releasing more information on the suspect, including an estimate that they were 5’7”.
The inability to make an arrest in the case was highly criticized by Republican lawmakers and became the subject of conspiracy theories, with current FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino suggesting it was an “inside job” and that the lack of arrests was part of a “massive cover up.”
Investigators have long described the bombs as potentially lethal. Had they detonated, they could have caused significant death or injury — especially given their proximity to prominent political buildings. Although the devices never detonated, their discovery drew some officers away from the Capitol shortly before rioters descended on the building.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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