Authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the pipe bombs discovered near the U.S. Capitol ahead of the January 6, 2021, riot. The individual, identified as Brian Cole from Virginia, was taken into custody after a lengthy investigation involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The pipe bombs, which were found in the Capitol Hill area, were placed at strategic locations with the potential to cause significant harm.

The arrest follows extensive efforts to identify the person responsible for planting the bombs, which were discovered the night before the insurrection when rioters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies had been actively searching for the suspect as part of a broader investigation into the events surrounding January 6.

While the pipe bombs did not detonate, their discovery raised serious concerns about the planning and coordination of the attack. Investigators were able to use a combination of surveillance footage and forensic evidence to identify Cole as a key suspect. Authorities have not yet released specific details about Cole’s connection to the events of January 6, but the arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing investigations related to the Capitol riot.

This arrest comes amid continued scrutiny of the actions and motivations of those involved in the January 6 insurrection, with law enforcement officials working to bring justice for the victims and hold perpetrators accountable for their roles in the attack.

Sources: BBC, The New York Times, CNN, NBC News, New York Post