A 30-year-old man from Virginia linked to a pipe bomb investigation surrounding the January 6, 2021 US Capitol riots has been charged with crimes related to explosives. Brian Cole Jr., who lives just miles away from Washington D.C., faces serious charges for allegedly placing bombs near key Republican and Democratic Party headquarters.
According to federal authorities, Cole purchased items used to create the bombs in 2019 and 2020, including pipes and kitchen timers from retail stores like Home Depot and Walmart. Investigators tracked his movements on January 5, 2021, just before the riots, and found that he was in areas close to where the suspicious devices were placed.
Cole's car was identified by a license plate reader near the location where security footage showed him being stopped. Authorities say Cole is suspected of attempting to detonate explosive devices but did not disclose any motives for his actions.
The case has been under investigation since January 2021, when pipe bombs were discovered outside Republican and Democratic Party headquarters. The FBI confirmed that the explosives were viable and could have seriously injured bystanders. Despite a substantial reward of $490,000, investigators had yet to identify the suspect until now.
Cole is charged with attempted malicious destruction using explosives and transporting explosives across state lines with intent to kill or harm. Authorities have not ruled out additional charges as part of the ongoing investigation. The case has captivated far-right conspiracy theorists for years, but officials say it was a result of diligent police work rather than new tips or evidence.
According to federal authorities, Cole purchased items used to create the bombs in 2019 and 2020, including pipes and kitchen timers from retail stores like Home Depot and Walmart. Investigators tracked his movements on January 5, 2021, just before the riots, and found that he was in areas close to where the suspicious devices were placed.
Cole's car was identified by a license plate reader near the location where security footage showed him being stopped. Authorities say Cole is suspected of attempting to detonate explosive devices but did not disclose any motives for his actions.
The case has been under investigation since January 2021, when pipe bombs were discovered outside Republican and Democratic Party headquarters. The FBI confirmed that the explosives were viable and could have seriously injured bystanders. Despite a substantial reward of $490,000, investigators had yet to identify the suspect until now.
Cole is charged with attempted malicious destruction using explosives and transporting explosives across state lines with intent to kill or harm. Authorities have not ruled out additional charges as part of the ongoing investigation. The case has captivated far-right conspiracy theorists for years, but officials say it was a result of diligent police work rather than new tips or evidence.
idk what's more disturbing is that he didn't even try to be sneaky, just walked around like nothing's wrong, buying his materials at Home Depot and Walmart like a normal person 
this investigation has been going on for ages and I'm glad they finally caught him, but also kinda bummed that it took this long, what if someone got hurt? 
Explosive stats alert 
And what's even more disturbing is that he was buying these pipe bomb materials from Home Depot and Walmart - it's like we're living in a movie! 
Either way, I think it's essential to remember that this was an act of domestic terrorism and should be taken very seriously. We need to stay vigilant and support our law enforcement agencies in their efforts to keep us safe.
i mean whats next? 
seriously though, 490k reward didnt work lol. investigators worked hard to catch him and its good they did because who knows what couldve happened if the bombs actually went off 
! I mean, can you even imagine what would've happened if those bombs had gone off? It's just chilling to think about all the people who could've gotten hurt. And the fact that he was able to get away with it for so long is just crazy 
. I'm glad the FBI and police kept working on this case, it's a great reminder of how important law enforcement is in keeping us safe. My kids are always asking me about safety and security, and this is definitely a good lesson for them - that there are people out there who care deeply about keeping our community protected 
.