Northern Virginia Man Arrested in Connection with 2021 D.C. Pipe Bomb Case
A 30-year-old man from Woodbridge, Virginia, has been arrested and charged with placing two pipe bombs outside the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021, just before a violent mob stormed the Capitol building.
According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Brian Cole Jr. was taken into custody early Thursday morning, marking the first arrest in nearly five years of investigation into the pipe bomb case. The FBI has been working on this case since January 6, 2021, when the bombs were discovered and potentially viable devices were found outside the DNC and RNC headquarters.
Cole, who lives with his mother and other family members in Woodbridge, works at a bail bondsman's office. He graduated from high school in Prince William County, Virginia, in 2013. Investigators executed search warrants in the afternoon, but no new information about Cole's motive was provided by Bondi during a news conference.
The suspect allegedly purchased components used to make pipe bombs in 2019 and 2020, according to an FBI affidavit. Cellphone records show that Cole's phone was located near the DNC and RNC headquarters on January 5, 2021, when the person who planted the bombs was seen on surveillance footage.
Cole's car was spotted by a license plate reader less than half a mile from where the person was seen on the footage. The FBI has called the devices "viable" and warned that they could have killed or injured people.
The arrest is a significant development in a case that had remained unsolved for nearly five years, despite an ongoing investigation involving over 1,500 people who were charged with participating in the January 6 insurrection. The pipe bomb case was one of several unsolved cases that drew additional resources and attention from the FBI.
"This case has been a priority for the Trump administration," Bondi said. "The lack of movement on this case undermined the public trust of our enforcement agencies."
A 30-year-old man from Woodbridge, Virginia, has been arrested and charged with placing two pipe bombs outside the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021, just before a violent mob stormed the Capitol building.
According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Brian Cole Jr. was taken into custody early Thursday morning, marking the first arrest in nearly five years of investigation into the pipe bomb case. The FBI has been working on this case since January 6, 2021, when the bombs were discovered and potentially viable devices were found outside the DNC and RNC headquarters.
Cole, who lives with his mother and other family members in Woodbridge, works at a bail bondsman's office. He graduated from high school in Prince William County, Virginia, in 2013. Investigators executed search warrants in the afternoon, but no new information about Cole's motive was provided by Bondi during a news conference.
The suspect allegedly purchased components used to make pipe bombs in 2019 and 2020, according to an FBI affidavit. Cellphone records show that Cole's phone was located near the DNC and RNC headquarters on January 5, 2021, when the person who planted the bombs was seen on surveillance footage.
Cole's car was spotted by a license plate reader less than half a mile from where the person was seen on the footage. The FBI has called the devices "viable" and warned that they could have killed or injured people.
The arrest is a significant development in a case that had remained unsolved for nearly five years, despite an ongoing investigation involving over 1,500 people who were charged with participating in the January 6 insurrection. The pipe bomb case was one of several unsolved cases that drew additional resources and attention from the FBI.
"This case has been a priority for the Trump administration," Bondi said. "The lack of movement on this case undermined the public trust of our enforcement agencies."
so the guy who made those pipe bombs was just a regular joe, works at a bail bondsman's office and lives with his mom 
it's crazy how he managed to fly under the radar for almost five years. and the fact that investigators finally found him after tracing his phone records and car license plate is just mind-blowing 
i mean, what's even more concerning is that the guy allegedly bought components for pipe bombs in 2019 and 2020, which is like, a clear warning sign 
but who knows what went through his head at that time? was it just a random act of violence or something more sinister? i guess we'll have to wait for more info to piece together the motive behind this arrest 
! I'm so glad the FBI was able to catch up with Brian Cole Jr. - it's been ages since that January 6th insurrection and this arrest is a big step forward! 
The fact that he bought pipe bomb components in 2019 and 2020 is just insane, what's going on with people these days?! 
I hope he faces the consequences for his actions, no one should ever put innocent lives at risk like that. 
i mean, can you even imagine if someone had walked into the capitol building that day with a pipe bomb? it wouldve been total chaos! the fact that he bought parts for the bombs in 2019 and 2020 is super suspicious. how did no one catch on sooner?! anyway, glad the FBI was able to crack the case after all this time... still sad about what happened on january 6th 
Anyway, Cole allegedly bought pipe bomb parts like 2 years ago and had his phone near the scene the day of the bombing. Not sure what's gonna happen to him now that he's been caught... maybe some therapy or a reality check 
! Can't believe it's taken so long to catch someone and now they're finally gettin' what's comin' to 'em... sorta. I mean, 30 years old and he thinks he can just go around plantin' pipe bombs like it's no big deal? Mind boggled 
I know the FBI's been workin' on it, but still... it's just so frustrating 
. And don't even get me started on Pam Bondi sayin' this guy's case was a "priority"... yeah right, because 5 years is just a priority? 
Anyway, glad we got the info finally, but this whole thing still feels kinda unsatisfying 
.
and his phone records show him near the DNC and RNC on Jan 5th? that's some sketchy stuff, fam 
but seriously, this is a huge break in the case. hopefully he talks and tells us what really went down 
. feels like a huge weight has been lifted off the shoulders of everyone involved 
, lets just focus on getting justice served now 
, hope the investigation into the January 6 insurrection leads to more answers too 
hope he gets a fair trial tho
it's a reminder that we have laws and institutions in place to protect us from people like Brian Cole Jr. 
. The fact that he was able to purchase pipe bomb components in 2019 and 2020 just shows how brazen and planned out this attack must have been 
. Can't even begin to imagine how scared people must've been on January 5, 2021, not knowing what was going to happen 
. It's always a good day when justice is served 
. And what's really got me thinking is why the Trump admin is suddenly invested in this case now. Wasn't they more focused on covering their own tracks during that insurrection? I mean, come on, Attorney General Bondi is saying that the lack of progress on this case undermined public trust... sounds like she's trying to deflect from something 
. And what about all those people who were charged with participating in the January 6 insurrection? Were they just, like, part of a bigger operation? This whole thing is giving me major conspiracy vibes 
it's almost like he wanted to leave a trail for us to follow 
.
. And now they're saying it was a priority for the Trump admin? Yeah right, let's not forget who funded the insurrection in the first place... 
doesn't seem like the actions of someone driven by ideology or a desire for attention. was it all just a twisted prank gone wrong? 
or is there more to this story than we know?