First court appearance for suspect in US Capitol pipe bomb plot

A 30-year-old man from Woodbridge, Virginia, suspected of placing pipe bombs in Washington, D.C., the night before the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, is scheduled to appear in federal court this Friday. Brian Cole Jr. faces two charges related to explosives, following his arrest just a day earlier.

Cole allegedly left the devices near the headquarters of both the Democratic and Republican parties, close to the Capitol and the White House, on the evening of January 5, 2021. The bombs were discovered the next day and safely deactivated by law enforcement. No injuries occurred and none of the devices detonated.

Authorities took Cole into custody on Thursday, marking the first arrest in connection with the pipe bomb incidents. Officials described this as a significant breakthrough in a case that had challenged investigators for years. FBI agents noted that handling the bombs required considerable police resources, particularly as thousands of Trump supporters had just stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying the 2020 election results.

Justice Department officials have not specified a motive for Coles actions, nor confirmed whether the pipe bombs were directly linked to the Capitol riot. Investigators traced the purchase of materials used in the bombs, such as pipes, kitchen timers, and battery connectors, to Cole. Cellphone and license plate records also placed him near the Democratic and Republican National Committee buildings on the night in question.

The federal charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the suspect was identified through a careful review of existing evidence rather than any new leads.

Author: Maya Henderson