FBI Arrests Suspect in Pipe Bomb Case Linked to January 6th Riot

Fri Dec 05 2025 15:33:47 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant breakthrough, the FBI has made its first arrest in connection to the pipe bombs that were placed in Washington, D.C. on the eve of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, solving a mystery that has baffled investigators for nearly five years.

The FBI has arrested a male suspect related to the placement of pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican national committee offices prior to the January 6 Capitol riot. This arrest ends a long investigation that highlighted significant security concerns and brought conspiracy theories to the forefront of public discourse. Investigators had struggled with the case for years, relying on tips, video reviews, and public appeals for help. Further details regarding charges against the suspect are still pending.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI made an arrest on Thursday in its nearly 5-year-old investigation into who placed pipe bombs in Washington on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

The arrest marks the first time investigators have settled on a suspect in an act that had long vexed law enforcement, spawned a multitude of conspiracy theories and remained an enduring mystery in the shadow of the dark chapter of American history that is the violent Capitol siege.

The official who described the arrest was not authorized to publicly discuss a case that has not yet been made public and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The arrest took place Thursday morning, and the suspect is a man, the official said. No other details were immediately available, including the charges the man might face.

The pipe bombs were placed on the evening of Jan. 5, 2021, near the offices of the Democratic and Republican national committees in the District of Columbia. Nobody was hurt before the bombs were rendered safe, but the FBI has said both devices could have been lethal.

In the years since, investigators have sought the public’s help in identifying a shadowy subject seen on surveillance camera even as they struggled to determine answers to basic questions, including the person’s gender and motive and whether the act had a clear connection to the riot at the Capitol a day later when supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the building in a bid to halt the certification of the Republican’s 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

Seeking a breakthrough, the FBI last January publicized additional information about the investigation, including an estimate that the suspect was about 5-foot-7, as well as previously unreleased video of the suspect placing one of the bombs.

The bureau had for years struggled to pinpoint a suspect despite hundreds of tips, a review of tens of thousands of video files and a significant number of interviews.

But in March, the FBI vowed to prioritize solving this case, having faced criticism and speculation regarding its handling. The probe has culminated in this significant arrest, highlighting ongoing challenges in addressing threats to national security.