Surveillance photos released by the FBI show a person in Washington, United States, on January 6, 2021. The FBI posted this surveillance photo and issued a notice seeking information about the perpetrators of pipe bombs left at Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters.
FBI | Reuters
The FBI on Thursday morning arrested a suspect believed to have planted a pipe bomb outside the Republican-Democratic headquarters before the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, MS NOW reported.
The arrest marks a major development in a nearly five-year federal investigation into who planted the bomb, which never exploded.
The suspect was charged with planting a bomb at the party’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., four people familiar with the development told MS NOW.
Law enforcement officials said police have not yet determined a motive, MS NOW reported.
However, two people briefed on the arrest told media outlets that the suspect had been involved in statements indicating support for anarchist ideology.
The FBI did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
As recently as late October, the agency offered a $500,000 reward for information that helped authorities identify the suspect in the Capitol bombing.
According to surveillance video released by the FBI, on January 5, 2021, at approximately 7:54 p.m. ET, a person wearing a face mask, black gloves, and a gray hoodie planted a bomb outside the Democratic National Committee building.
About 22 minutes later, the same person appeared to plant a second bomb near the Republican National Committee offices, according to the video.
The incident occurred hours before a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers prepared to certify former President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
The timing of the attempted crime and the elusiveness of the perpetrator have made the case a breeding ground for conspiracy theories.
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