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FBI presses hunt for suspect who planted pipe bombs ahead of Capitol riot
Federal law enforcement officials announced on Friday that they believe pipe bombs that were discovered outside the headquarters of the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6 were placed there the night before, and are asking the public for help in identifying the suspect seen in security camera footage taken from the area.
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have also raised their reward to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect, who is seen in surveillance footage wearing a face mask, a gray hooded sweatshirt and yellow, black and gray Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes.
The Washington Post published the videos Friday shortly before the FBI and ATF released new information about the case, which has been largely overshadowed by the ongoing investigations into the deadly Capitol riot carried out by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Earlier this week, the FBI said it had identified more than 400 suspects in the Jan. 6 siege, which left five people dead, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer, and dozens more injured.
Steven D’Antuono, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Washington field office, said more than 150 criminal cases have been filed so far on charges including unauthorized access, theft and assault.
Officials are still trying to determine whether the assault on the Capitol was planned before the rally that preceded it.
It’s unclear whether the pipe bomb case and Capitol attack are related, but the placement of the bombs the night before raises the possibility that there was a plan to create a diversion during the insurrection, and that the storming of the building was choreographed.
Police said they received reports of two suspected pipe bombs outside the RNC and DNC headquarters between 1 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. on Jan. 6, around the time of the siege on the Capitol.
The improvised explosive devices were defused by bomb squads and did not detonate.
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