WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a major breakthrough nearly five years after the January 6 Capitol riots, the FBI has arrested Brian J. Cole Jr., a 30-year-old resident of Woodbridge, Virginia, in connection with the placement of two functional pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on the night of January 5, 2021.

Federal investigators say Cole matches the description of the masked suspect seen in widely circulated surveillance footage: a hooded figure wearing a gray sweatshirt, gloves, and a backpack, calmly placing two separate bags near dumpsters adjacent to both party headquarters on Capitol Hill. The devices, according to federal sources and materials later confirmed by the Department of Justice, contained explosive components and were fully capable of detonating. They were discovered just before the breach of the U.S. Capitol, raising fears at the time of a coordinated attack designed to divert law enforcement or trigger mass casualties.

NBC News confirmed that Cole’s arrest came after an extensive multi-agency investigation involving the FBI’s Washington Field Office, counterterrorism units, forensic examiners, and analysts who spent years reviewing physical evidence, surveillance videos, and digital trails. Despite thousands of tips, the case remained one of the most stubborn unsolved mysteries tied to January 6.

Authorities have not yet released the full investigative affidavit, but officials familiar with the case describe Cole’s charging as a “significant step forward” in resolving one of the most symbolically important domestic terrorism investigations of the decade. For years, the pipe bombs were cited across political lines as among the most serious and alarming elements of the events surrounding January 6.

The initial discovery of the bombs in 2021 forced evacuations of staff, triggered a large-scale law enforcement response, and redirected resources from the Capitol just as crowds began clashing with police. While the devices never detonated, the FBI repeatedly emphasized that they were operational—and if triggered, could have caused substantial injury or death.

For Republicans, the placement of a bomb at the RNC headquarters remains one of the least-discussed but most shocking elements of the chaos surrounding January 6, underscoring that the attack targeted both political parties. The arrest of a suspect after years of uncertainty is likely to fuel new questions about motive, coordination, and why the investigation took so long to yield a breakthrough.

Cole is expected to face federal charges related to the manufacture, possession, and placement of explosive devices, as well as potential terrorism-related counts. More details are expected as the Justice Department releases additional documents.

The arrest marks the first major development in the pipe bomb case since 2021—bringing long-awaited clarity to an episode that has haunted investigators, lawmakers, and the American public for nearly half a decade.