FBI Releases New Footage of Pipe Bomb Suspect
The FBI has shared new surveillance videos revealing previously unseen footage of the individual who planted a pipe bomb near the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Republican National Committee (RNC) offices on January 5, 2021. They have also reinstated a reward of $500,000 for information leading to the suspect’s capture.
In a recent update on X, the FBI stated, “We are offering a $500,000 reward for information that helps identify the person who placed pipe bombs at the DNC and RNC offices.” The bureau emphasized that the newly released video includes clearer and longer clips showing the subject in action.
The footage illustrates the suspect’s activities the night before the Capitol riot, particularly between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. It shows him wearing a backpack while planting bombs outside both party headquarters before he vanished from sight in Washington, D.C.
The individual, described as approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, donned a gray hooded sweatshirt, black gloves, and distinctive Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes with a yellow logo, and he covered his face with a mask, according to the FBI.
The suspect was observed walking through the Capitol Hill area between 7:34 p.m. and 8:18 p.m. He initially appeared near 1st Street and North Carolina Avenue SE before stopping to drop off a backpack thought to contain one of the bombs on South Capitol Street.
Subsequently, the video captures him sitting on a bench outside the DNC headquarters before planting the first explosive device at around 7:54 p.m.
After that, the suspect proceeded to the RNC headquarters, where he placed the second device at 8:16 p.m. and quickly disappeared from view.
In January, the FBI made renewed attempts to resolve this cold case by releasing new video footage, and in May, Deputy Director Dan Bongino indicated that the bureau was “quite confident” they were getting closer to identifying the suspect.
Investigators have pursued hundreds of leads, sifting through thousands of video files and conducting over 1,000 interviews. Bongino has pointed out the importance of public assistance, suggesting that social media is a vital tool for generating new leads in this case.
Fortunately, no one was harmed during the 2021 pipe bomb incident; however, officials believe the attack could have had deadly consequences. It’s worth noting that then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was in the DNC office when the bomb was found. Additionally, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi walked past the bomb before it was discovered and safely dealt with by authorities.
