FBI reportedly detains suspect in Jan. 6 pipe bomb investigation

On December 4, 2023, reports surfaced that the FBI has apprehended a suspect linked to the pipe bomb attempts on January 6, 2021, near the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican National Committees. Multiple outlets, including CNN, CBS News, and NBC News, confirmed the arrest took place on Thursday morning, although the FBI has not disclosed further details. A press conference is scheduled later in the day for an official announcement.

The case has remained unsolved for nearly five years, with law enforcement struggling to gather solid leads due to the poor quality of surveillance footage. The suspect is accused of placing homemade pipe bombs outside the RNC and DNC buildings on the evening of January 5, 2021, the night before the Capitol riot.

The devices were constructed using 1-inch galvanized pipes, measuring 8 inches in length, with end caps, homemade black powder, wires, metal clips, and a kitchen timer. According to the FBI, the bombs were fully functional and posed a significant risk to anyone nearby if detonated. To date, the agency has offered a $500,000 reward for information leading to the suspects identification.

The bombs remained undetected for 15 hours before being discovered. Surveillance footage described the suspect as an individual approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, carrying a backpack, and wearing a face mask, glasses, gloves, a gray hoodie, and black and light-gray Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes with a yellow logo.

The discovery of the bombs occurred just before rioters breached security barriers at the Capitol, leading to speculation about potential connections between the bomber and the ensuing chaos. This timing has fueled various conspiracy theories, including claims that the attack was part of an "inside job" related to the Capitol events. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has been one of the prominent figures advancing this theory. In the past, he suggested on his podcast that the FBI knew the identity of the suspect but was withholding information, claiming it was part of an orchestrated plot.

Since joining the FBI, Bongino has shown a particular interest in the case, even stating on social media that the agency had allocated more resources to investigating the bombing, including the deployment of additional officers and detectives to review previous work and conduct internal reviews.

Author: Natalie Monroe