The individual accused of placing two pipe bombs in Washington DC on the eve of the US Capitol riot has reportedly confessed to the crime during interviews with investigators, according to sources familiar with the case.
Confession and Political Motivations
Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old from Woodbridge, Virginia, admitted to planting the devices in discussions with law enforcement, two people told The Associated Press. The sources, who were not authorised to publicly discuss the ongoing investigation, spoke on condition of anonymity.
During these interviews, Cole also expressed the view that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and showed support for then-President Donald Trump. These details begin to form a picture of the suspect's potential motivations, though federal authorities have not yet publicly confirmed any motive or a direct link to the Capitol assault that occurred the following day.
A Five-Year Mystery Solved
Cole was arrested on Thursday, 4 December 2025, marking the first public identification of a suspect in a case that had remained unsolved for nearly five years. The pipe bombs were discovered on 5 January 2021 outside the headquarters of both the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee.
Although the devices were disabled without injury, the FBI has stated both were functional and could have caused lethal harm. Cole now faces federal explosives charges related to the incident.
The Investigation That Led to an Arrest
An FBI affidavit unsealed on Thursday outlined the investigative trail that led authorities to Cole. Key evidence included analysis of credit card records for purchasing bomb components, cellphone tower data, and information from automated license plate readers.
A spokesperson for the federal public defender's office, which will represent Cole during his Friday court appearance in Washington, declined to comment. Attempts to reach relatives of Cole listed in public records were unsuccessful on Thursday.
The arrest brings a significant development in one of the most persistent mysteries surrounding the turbulent period of the 2021 Capitol attack, though many questions about the full scope of the plot and its connections remain unanswered.
