On Thursday, December 4, 2025, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith and Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan attended a press conference at the Department of Justice to announce the arrest of Brian Cole Jr. for allegedly planting pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic National Committee offices on January 6, 2021.
Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call Inc. | Getty Images
Pipe bomb suspect Brian Cole Jr. confessed to the crime to the FBI, telling investigators he supports President Donald Trump and holds anarchist views, MS NOW reported Friday.
Cole, 30, was arrested Thursday morning at his parents’ home in Woodbridge, Virginia, nearly five years after he was accused of placing explosive devices outside Republican and Democratic Party offices in Washington, D.C., the night before the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
While in custody, Cole confessed to planting a pipe bomb but it did not go off, two people familiar with the interview with the FBI told MS NOW.
Cole’s attorney, John Shoreman, did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on this report.
This still image taken from a video released on March 9, 2021, shows a suspect planting an explosive device near the Democratic-Republican Committee headquarters in Washington.
FBI | via Reuters
In his first court appearance Friday afternoon, the government told Judge Mokshila Upadhyaya that Cole spoke with authorities for “more than four hours” the day before, NBC News reported.
Federal authorities have not yet released what motivated Cole to allegedly plant the bomb.
Asked at a Thursday news conference what Cole’s motive might have been, Attorney General Pam Bondi said the investigation is ongoing.
Cole is currently charged with transporting explosives in interstate commerce with intent to kill, injure, intimidate, or unlawfully destroy property.
He is also charged with “malicious destruction or attempted destruction by means of fire and explosives.”
“I think there will be more charges in the future,” Bondi said on Fox News Friday morning.
This is developing news. Please check back for the latest information.
