FBI Arrests Suspect in Capitol Hill Pipe Bomb Case After Five-Year Manhunt
After nearly five years of investigation, the FBI has arrested a Virginia man in connection with the planting of two live pipe bombs outside the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters. The devices were placed on the night of January 5, 2021, just hours before the Capitol riot unfolded the next day.
The arrest, announced Thursday morning, brings long-awaited progress in one of the FBI’s highest-profile unsolved cases tied to January 6. Though the suspect’s name has not yet been released, federal officials confirmed his capture and his ties to the pipe bomb threat that forced evacuations and disrupted congressional activity just as the certification of the 2020 presidential election was about to begin.
“The arrest marks the first major breakthrough in the five-year investigation that had baffled the agency and sparked a wave of conspiracy theories,” an FBI official said, according to reports.
The bombs were discovered just before the attack on the U.S. Capitol, when a staffer at the RNC office called police at 12:45 p.m. on January 6, reporting a suspicious device. Soon after, a similar call came from the DNC. Both locations were evacuated, and bomb technicians successfully disarmed the devices. No one was injured.
Federal investigators say the arrest followed an exhaustive process: over 1,000 interviews, reviews of tens of thousands of hours of surveillance video, and public appeals—including the release of clear video footage of the suspect—from 2021 through early 2024. A $500,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction, announced in 2023, remained unclaimed.
The individual arrested is suspected of placing the bombs on Capitol Hill between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the evening of January 5, 2021. Surveillance video captured the suspect walking the streets with a backpack, stopping at the two targeted locations.
At approximately 7:54 p.m., the individual placed a bomb in a strategic location outside the DNC headquarters on South Capitol Street. Roughly 20 minutes later, a second device was planted near the RNC building on First Street Southeast. The suspect, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black gloves, and a mask, was seen scanning the nearby surroundings upon each drop before walking off. Distinctive Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes, black and gray with a yellow logo, helped analysts piece together his identity over time.
The devices were functional. The FBI previously confirmed that both bombs were “viable” and could have caused serious injury or death had they exploded. Their placement coincided with a politically volatile moment as thousands of demonstrators—many of them supporters of then-President Donald Trump—prepared to march to the U.S. Capitol in protest of the election certification.
The motive behind the planting remains officially undisclosed. However, law enforcement sources say the arrested individual is linked to anarchist ideologies. It is not yet clear whether the act was planned as a diversion, precursor, or a separate demonstration unrelated to the broader riots of January 6. The placement of bombs outside the headquarters of both major political parties stirred widespread speculation in the weeks and months that followed, especially as no arrests were made.
In the aftermath, questions emerged about how such a coordinated threat had evaded resolution for so long. Criticism mounted from lawmakers and security analysts alike, especially as the government quickly pursued and prosecuted hundreds of January 6 rioters for trespassing, assault, and obstruction—some in a matter of weeks. In contrast, the bomber remained unidentified for years, despite high-profile evidence and repeated public pleas from officials.
“Investigators have conducted more than 1,000 interviews and reviewed tens of thousands of video files,” the FBI maintained in its recent briefing. “Every piece of information, no matter how small, was evaluated.”
The arrest may also help put to rest persistent conspiracy theories. With the suspect eluding capture, some speculated that the attack had been orchestrated or covered up. Others questioned whether it was connected to left-wing groups or foreign adversaries. Thursday’s arrest offers concrete progress but leaves questions unanswered about motive, affiliations, and possible accomplices.
The suspect is expected to be charged under federal explosives statutes. He will likely face counts related to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and targeting federal political offices. Sentences for such federal crimes can carry decades in prison if convicted.
The announcement echoed widely online. A viral tweet summarized the development, stating: “🚨 MAJOR BREAKING: The FBI has ARRESTED a Virginia man in connection with placing pipe bombs outside the RNC and DNC ahead of January 6, 2021. WOW! His identity has not yet been released. More info expected soon.”
The tweet underscores the sense of relief and shock. For many, the story had faded into the background of the larger January 6 narrative. But public concern, especially among those who work on Capitol Hill, has lingered. The area had to be cleared on January 6 not just for the rioters but because of the unseen threat the bombs posed that day. If either device had detonated, bystanders—or worse, elected officials or their staff—could have been killed.
The FBI’s initial footage, released in 2021, showed the suspect calmly walking through residential blocks near Capitol Hill, appearing to have specific knowledge of the area. He avoided direct security cameras and storefronts where identifiers might be traced. Most notably, he placed each bomb in areas meant to seem random but where they would be found by employees arriving for work.
Growing public frustration in recent years prompted stiff criticism from members of Congress, particularly over perceived gaps in security preparedness and response timelines. Some called the investigation alarmingly slow, pointing to the large reward and clear video footage. Prior to this arrest, the identity and motive of the bomber remained one of the last major unanswered questions relating to the Capitol complex events of early January 2021.
In the years following the incident, the reward gradually increased from $50,000 to $500,000. According to officials, this increase drove substantial new tips and video submissions. However, it remains unconfirmed whether the arrest came from a public source or continued forensic analysis and video gait recognition.
Though the bombs never exploded, their effect forced the shutdown of buildings and drained law enforcement resources on the very day Capitol security was stretched thin. Experts warned at the time that the devices could have severely complicated rescue or police efforts had they exploded in conjunction with a larger attack.
This arrest marks a milestone. But key parts of the story remain sealed. The Justice Department has not stated whether it intends to charge anyone else or how long the suspect had been under surveillance before today.
A court appearance is expected next week. Officials say more details are likely to be publicly released after formal charges are filed. Until then, questions about this suspect’s background, planning process, and potential connections remain unanswered.
"*" indicates required fields
