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Who is Brian Cole? Jan 6 eve DC pipe bomb suspect identified as Woodbridge resident

Brian Cole, 30, is a resident of Woodbridge, Virginia. He allegedly planted several pipe bombs on the eve of the January 6, 2021 riots.

Updated on: Dec 04, 2025 9:38 PM IST
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Brian Cole has been identified as the suspect who allegedly planted pipe bombs outside both the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, according to reports from the New York Post and Daily Mail, which cite law enforcement sources.

Brian Cole has been identified as DC pipe bomb suspect. (UnSplash)
Brian Cole has been identified as DC pipe bomb suspect. (UnSplash)

Who is Brian Cole?

Brian Cole, 30, is a resident of Woodbridge, Virginia. He was taken into custody Thursday morning and is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in Washington, D.C., at 1 p.m. The exact charges are not clear so far.

The two pipe bombs were placed on the evening of Jan. 5, 2021, near the DNC and RNC offices in Washington, D.C.

Although the devices were safely disarmed and no one was injured, the FBI has said both bombs were viable and could have been deadly.

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CCTV footage

Surveillance video showed a hooded suspect placing a backpack on South Capitol Street. The person then put on glasses, scanned the area, and walked away.

Footage next captured the suspect at the DNC headquarters, where a device was planted at 7:54 p.m.

The suspect then walked to the RNC headquarters and placed a second device at 8:16 p.m. He was last seen two minutes later.

He wore a face mask, glasses, a gray hoodie, gloves, and black-and-light-gray Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes with a yellow logo.

Both explosive devices were found the next day. This was just hours before crowds of Donald Trump supporters arrived in Washington, D.C., to protest the 2020 election results.

Also Read: Trump administration weighs expanding travel ban to over 30 nations after National Guard shooting

The FBI released many photos and video clips of the masked suspect over the years and eventually raised the reward to $500,000.

  • Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan

    Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan leads the US Desk at Hindustan Times, where she writes, strategises coverage, and ensures quality across all beats. With eight years of experience covering US news for leading publications, she has reported extensively on politics, entertainment, and sports. Vaishnavi holds a graduate degree in English, Journalism, and Psychology, and completed her PG Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Manorama School of Communication, where she was awarded the prestigious Mammen Mappillai Award for Best Outgoing Student. She began her career at the International Business Times (US Edition), covering US breaking news, politics, and entertainment. She later joined Opoyi, reporting across all beats, including US sports and trending stories. Prior to Hindustan Times, she served as World Lead at Times Now News, covering comprehensive world news and events. Vaishnavi has expertise in politics, entertainment, and breaking news, and enjoys tackling stories across a wide range of topics. Beyond the newsroom, she is an avid traveller, a foodie who loves exploring new restaurants, and a pop culture enthusiast who enjoys watching latest shows and films. She also enjoys engaging in debates and discussions on Reddit.Read More

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